Mahela Jayawardene is the new entree for the position of Indian head coach

Former Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene has now thrown his hat into the ring, for the role of head coach of the Indian team after the deadline for the application extended to July 9.

Jayawardene had worked as the head coach for the IPL franchise Mumbai Indians before he took his team to the title victory earlier this year. This season marked the right-hander’s first stint as a coach in his long and illustrious career. The stylish right-hand bat has scored 25,957 runs in the 652 international matches that he represented for the Island Nation.

The 40-year-old also has 54 tons and 136 fifties under his name, while playing for Sri Lanka. Jayawardene has pulled himself out of the Lancashire league and has joined the likes of Tom Moody and Richard Pybus as the foreign applications.

Three-way battle

The new entree of Jayawardene might just as well shake things up after reports suggested that the Indian opener Virender Sehwag might grab the post of head coach for Team India. According to the reports on India Today, there were a few players who supported Tom Moody as the next Indian coach.

It is reported that there would be a three-way battle between the Sri Lankan, the Indian and the Australian player. Kumble resigned after his partnership with skipper Virat Kohli became “untenable”. He took the decision two days after arch-rivals Pakistan handed India an 180-run defeat in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy.

The Indian team, which is currently on the tour of West Indies is without a coach, and it is only after this tour, the management would make a decision on the next India coach. The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) comprising of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman would take the decision of the next Indian coach before the tour of Sri Lanka.