BCCI receives parody applications for head coach position, Narendra Modi, MS Dhoni, Amit Shah among top names

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly received over 3000 applications for the high-profile role of head coach for the senior men's team. The applications included prank entries from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, and Home Minister Amit Shah. While the genuine candidates remain under wraps, these applications have grabbed eyeballs across the nation.

The recruitment process was initiated keeping in mind the current head coach Rahul Dravid's tenure, which ends with the T20 World Cup 2024. The BCCI opened applications publicly via an online form, unintentionally allowing pranksters to submit entries under famous names.

As per reports, apart from Modi, Tendulkar, and Shah, the list also features entries from former cricketers like MS Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, and Virender Sehwag.

“Last year too, the BCCI received such a response where imposters applied, and the story is similar this time. The reason the BCCI had to invite applications on Google forms is it's easy to scrutinize the names of applicants in one sheet,” a BCCI official said as quoted by NDTV.

Also Read: Neither I nor the BCCI approached any former Australian cricketer for India head coach role: Jay Shah

“The coach's key accountabilities will include, the successful candidate will be responsible for developing a world-class Indian cricket team that delivers sustained success in all conditions and formats, inspiring current and future generations of cricketers and stakeholders with their approach to the game. The Head Coach will have overall responsibility for the performance and management of the India Men's team in all three formats of the game,” a recent BCCI advertisement read.

BCCI yet to confirm India's next head coach

The serious contenders reportedly include former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir as the frontrunner. Gambhir is currently working with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL as a mentor, and under his guidance, the side lifted their third IPL title.

Also Read: 5 Names who can replace Rahul Dravid as India Head Coach: Who's Next?

However, the BCCI remains tight-lipped about the actual applicant pool and their credentials. While the BCCI secretary, Jay Shah, recently stated that no former Australian cricketers were approached for the head coach position.