BCCI to Hire Ricky Ponting as India’s Coach? – This Happened When India had an Australian Coach?

By
Teja Devathoti
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11
Ricky Ponting

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is on the hunt for a new head coach for Team India, following the end of Rahul Dravid’s tenure with the completion of the T20 World Cup. The search has led to the consideration of several candidates, including former Australian captain Ricky Ponting.

Ricky Ponting is in talks for the Head Coach

Ponting, one of the most successful captains in cricket history and a respected figure in the sport, has reportedly caught the attention of the BCCI. His coaching credentials are impressive, having served as the coach of the Delhi Capitals since 2021 and previously worked with Australia in different capacities. His extensive knowledge of Indian cricket, garnered through his IPL stints, makes him a strong contender.

However, the prospect of Ponting taking up the role is not without concerns. One of the primary issues is the time commitment required for the position. The role of the coach of the Indian cricket team is demanding, requiring the incumbent to be on the road for most of the year. This factor was a deterrent for Ponting when he was approached by the BCCI for the coaching role before Dravid took it up. With a young family, Ponting had reservations about the extensive travel and time away from home.

Another concern is the duration of the tenure. The new coach will be in charge until the 2027 World Cup. This long-term commitment might be a stumbling block for Ponting, given his previous reservations about the time commitment.

The BCCI’s consideration of Ricky Ponting also signals a potential shift in its stance towards foreign coaches. After a few unsuccessful stints with foreign coaches, the BCCI shifted its preference towards Indian coaches. However, the successes of foreign coaches like John Wright and Gary Kirsten, who oversaw significant milestones including Test series victories abroad and a World Cup triumph, cannot be overlooked.

Indian Cricket Team under an Australian Coach last time

Greg Chappell, a former Australian cricket team captain, was appointed as the coach of the Indian cricket team in 2005. His appointment was backed heavily by Sourav Ganguly, the then captain. However, Chappell’s tenure was marked by controversies and did not yield the desired results.

Chappell’s tenure began with a major fallout with Ganguly, which reportedly started when Chappell asked Ganguly to step down from his captaincy. This dispute resulted in the removal of Ganguly as captain and his replacement by vice-captain Rahul Dravid in November 2005. Ganguly was also dropped from the ODI team and later from the Test team at the end of January 2006.

The dispute stirred up strong emotions in India, ranging from fiery street protests in Ganguly’s hometown of Kolkata and his home state of West Bengal to speeches in the Parliament of India. Chappell is said to have created an insecure environment between the Indian cricketers, with Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh openly criticising the Australian coach.

Despite the controversies, Chappell’s tenure also had some significant achievements. His rift with India’s captain Sourav Ganguly and poor performances of the team at the 2007 World Cup made Chappell a dark figure in the history of Indian Cricket. Despite the popular perception that Chappell’s tenure as coach was an unsuccessful one, he had a hand in laying the foundations of the team that went on to win the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.

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