As Rahul Dravid's tenure as the head coach of Team India is about to end soon, BCCI are on the lookout for a capable coach to entrust with the responsibility of coaching Team India. Speculations on Gautam Gambhir to take up the role are rife and amid the obscurity, the KKR mentor has finally paid heed to the subject of coaching the Indian team.

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Gautam Gambhir expresses desire to coach Team India

The deadline to submit the application for the job of Team India's coach was May 27, and it is still not clear whether Gautam Gambhir has registered his resume for it or not. However, as assertions are at large, Gambhir has spoken highly about the job and calls coaching Team India as the biggest "honour." He has blatantly accepted that he would love to coach" the national team.

Gambhir recently guided Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title and is seen as an able successor to Rahul Dravid, whose contract expires after the ongoing T20 World Cup.

“I would love to coach the Indian team. There is no bigger honour than coaching your national team. You are representing 140 crore Indians and those across the globe as well.  And more across the globe as well. And when you represent India, how can it get bigger than that?"” said the 42-year-old at an event in Abu Dhabi.

Gambhir was asked how he would help India win the World Cup. This was his response. 

"How can I help India win the World Cup - I think it's not me that will help India win the World Cup, it is 140 crore Indians that will help India win the World Cup," Gambhir said. "If everyone starts praying for us, and we start playing and representing them, India will win the World Cup. The most important thing is to be fearless and yes, I would love to coach India."

Gambhir recently guided Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title and is seen as an able successor to Rahul Dravid, whose contract expires after the ongoing T20 World Cup.

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Former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly backs Gautam Gambhir

Earlier this week, former India captain Sourav Ganguly had backed Gambhir for the India head coach role, saying "he is a good candidate". Gambhir was addressing a gathering of students at Medeor Hospital in Abu Dhabi.

When one of the students asked him about coaching the Indian cricket team and helping them win the World Cup with his experience, Gambhir responded, “I have not answered this question, although lot of people have asked me. But I have to answer you now.

“It is 140 crore Indians who will help India win the World Cup. If everyone starts praying for us and we start playing and representing them, India will win the World Cup. The most important thing is to be fearless," said Gambhir.

The former opener, who was on a personal trip to the UAE, paid a visit to the sports medicine department at the Medeor Hospital. During the visit, he connected with young cricket enthusiasts from different academies in Abu Dhabi, and shared insights on his inspiring journey, and recent achievements.

Gambhir, who was a key member of the Indian team that won the 2007 World T20 and the 2011 ODI World Cup, was praised for his recent success with the KKR.

“A secure dressing room is a happy dressing room, and a happy dressing room ends up in a winning dressing room. The only thing I did in the KKR was following this mantra. With God’s grace it actually worked,” he said.

(With inputs from PTI)