The search for Rahul Dravid's successor as head coach of the Indian men's cricket team is nearing its conclusion, with Gautam Gambhir reportedly the frontrunner for the role. Gambhir's stock has risen sharply due to his successful tenure as a mentor for the IPL 2024 champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had also considered several high-profile candidates, including prominent Australian names and IPL coaches such as Stephen Fleming and Andy Flower. However, Gambhir appears to have edged ahead in the race.

Gambhir's candidacy gained traction after KKR's stellar performance in the league stage of IPL 2024, where they finished as the top team. Their dominance continued as they triumphed over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final. Following the victory, Gambhir was seen in a lengthy discussion with BCCI secretary Jay Shah, sparking further speculation about his potential appointment.

According to a report by India Today, Gambhir is now poised to replace Dravid. Despite his recent role as KKR's mentor and his previous coaching stint with the Lucknow Super Giants, Gambhir lacks experience as the head coach of a national team or an IPL franchise. Nonetheless, his pivotal role in KKR's success this season has reportedly convinced the BCCI to seriously consider him for the top job.

The BCCI had invited applications for the head coach position by May 27, receiving over 3,000 submissions, including some fake applications from names like 'Sachin Tendulkar', 'Narendra Modi', and 'Amit Shah'. The Cricket Advisory Committee is expected to begin the process of interviewing shortlisted candidates soon, with Gambhir emerging as a strong contender to take on the responsibility of leading the Indian cricket team.