Why WV Raman's credentials also deserve attention for head coach’s job
Gautam Gambhir looks set to be the Indian men’s team’s next head coach. Once Rahul Dravid made it clear that he would not be re-applying for the post at the end of the T20 World Cup, the speculation began.
An unnamed foreigner was in the mix. At least two former Australian cricketers said they had received feelers from those in power, but were not interested in the job. So much so that Jay Shah, BCCI secretary, put out an official clarification that neither he nor anyone else from the Indian cricket board had approached either of these cricketers.
This is just how the ecosystem works around Indian cricket. There is rarely anything simple or straightforward. And then, when it looked like Gambhir was in a one-man race, it came to light that WV Raman, another former Indian left-handed opening bat, had also applied for the job.
Raman played 11 Tests and 27 ODIs but it is not on the back of this that he is the best candidate for the job. After all, cricket is littered with examples of players with glittering playing records who did not come good as coaches. Equally, there are those who did not play as much as they should have — and this is certainly true of Raman — who have the ability to get the best out of players.
As far as coaching credentials are concerned, Raman ticks every single box and then some. He has coached multiple Ranji Trophy teams, worked with IPL teams, been with the National Cricket Academy (NCA) where he put many excellent processes in place and has had stints with the Indian women’s senior team.
