Delhi: Former Indian legendary leg-spinner and national team head coach Anil Kumble has backed former opener Gautam Gambhir, saying that the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor is capable of replacing Rahul Dravid. Gambhir is the frontrunner to become India's next head coach, while the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has started looking for Dravid's replacement ahead of the start of the ICC T20 World Cup.

Rahul's tenure is going to end after the ongoing T20 World Cup in the US and West Indies. Dravid has confirmed that he will not re-apply, after which it is believed that the BCCI has focused on Gambhir.

Kumble told Star Sports, “You have to give him (Gambhir) time. He is definitely capable. We have seen Gautam handle teams, he has been a captain for India and his franchise. He has all the qualifications to do it, but coaching the Indian team is a little different, so you have to give him time to settle down.”

Let us tell you that Gambhir does not have experience of coaching the national cricket team. However, the former India opener has proven himself to be an excellent guide. He worked as a mentor with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2022 and 2023 and his team managed to reach the playoffs in both the seasons. Gambhir returned to KKR for the first time since leaving the franchise as a player in 2017. The two-time title-winning captain was appointed as the mentor of the franchise and KKR won their third IPL title on May 26, 2024.

It is noteworthy that while inviting applications, BCCI had said that the tenure of the new head coach would be 3.5 years, which would end in December 2027.

Dravid has done a great job – Kumble

53-year-old Kumble further said, “You need a player with a strong attitude and you want consistency. Rahul Dravid has done a great job. Hopefully he will perform memorable performances for India in the T20 World Cup. You also have to keep in mind that some senior players are in the last phase of their career, so you need a player who can go through that phase of change.”