The search for India’s next men’s cricket head coach is underway, with Rahul Dravid set to step down after the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup. Although MS Dhoni is a popular candidate, he is ineligible for the role. The requirement for the position mandates that applicants must be fully retired from all forms of cricket. Despite Dhoni’s retirement from international cricket in 2020, his ongoing participation in the IPL with the Chennai Super Kings disqualifies him from becoming the head coach.
MS Dhoni, arguably the most popular Indian cricketer, has been widely suggested on social media as a potential candidate for Team India’s new coach. However, Dhoni’s ongoing participation in the IPL with the Chennai Super Kings disqualifies him from the position, as candidates must be fully retired from all formats of cricket.
Despite this, Dhoni could still be involved with the team in other capacities. He mentored the Indian team during the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE, although India was eliminated in the group stages.
There is no indication that Dhoni will retire after the 2024 IPL season, as he remains in excellent form. This year, he maintained a strike rate of over 220, being dismissed only three times in 11 innings.
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Applications for India’s head coach position closed on Monday, with over 3,000 submissions received via a public Google form. Many of these were fake, including names like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Sachin Tendulkar, according to the Indian Express.
Among the serious candidates, Gautam Gambhir, mentor of the IPL-winning Kolkata Knight Riders, has been mentioned, along with Stephen Fleming and Ricky Ponting. The BCCI has not yet disclosed the final list of candidates.