'GG is Very Simple': Wasim Akram Wants Gautam Gambhir to Become Next India Head Coach

Former Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram reckons Gautam Gambhir will be the best fit for the role of Team India’s head coach succeeding Rahul Dravid. Since the BCCI invited applications for the prestigious job, the names of several potential candidates have come to light. According to media reports, former players like Stephen Fleming, Justin Langer and VVS Laxman have been in the race to become India’s next coach. Some cricket pundits have suggested the name of Gambhir as well. One of them is Akram, who feels the World Cup-winning batter possesses all the qualities to guide the Indian team.

The legendary pacer believes it’s Gautam Gambhir’s aggressive mindset that makes him the top contender for the job. “Yeah, he is the best candidate. It depends on whether Gautam accepts it. He has also left politics because it took too much time. It is a time-consuming job. He is a very intelligent person, so he realised it’s not easy. He has two lovely daughters,” Wasim Akram was quoted by NDTV as saying on the Sportskeeda Cricket YouTube channel.

The 57-year-old further pointed at Gambhir’s straightforward nature, saying, “He speaks clearly, bluntly and doesn’t think twice, a quality that isn’t part of Indian cricket culture. In our culture, we say things that don’t offend people. But GG is someone who, if he doesn’t like something, will say it to your face. That’s his quality and that’s why everyone likes him. He gets aggressive at times, but that’s him as a person. He will bring that same aggression to the team.”

Gautam Gambhir is currently involved in the Indian Premier League (IPL), serving as the mentor of his former team Kolkata Knight Riders. As a captain of the same side, Gambhir won two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014. Since then, KKR have failed to add any more trophies to their cabinet.

The Kolkata-based franchise brought back Gambhir to the dugout ahead of the ongoing edition. The decision seems to have paid off with KKR once again cruising to the IPL final. It last happened in 2021 when the two-time champions lost the summit clash to Chennai Super Kings.

Under the guidance of Gautam Gambhir, KKR have dominated the campaign this year. They finished as the table topper before overcoming Sunrisers Hyderabad in a one-sided qualifier in Ahmedabad. KKR will meet the winners of Qualifier 2 in the highly anticipated final on May 26.

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