5 coaching personnel suggested by Gautam Gambhir and denied by BCCI, including Jonty Rhodes

Gautam Gambhir's suggestions for some of the coaching and support staff have been dismissed by BCCI due to various reasons. There were some former cricketers who were unhappy with dismantling a support staff unit that hadn't committed grave mistakes. BCCI doesn't seem too keen on the choice of the new Indian Head Coach. 

The biggest reason behind the rejection of the proposal is the principles of the BCCI. The board has a rule for the coaching and support staff. No member of the support staff in BCCI can be a non-Indian. This has led to picking only those who have been from India for the coaching and support personnel. It has been the case for the last few years or so. Even some Indian names suggested by Gambhir were rejected.

Here are the 5 names suggested by Gautam Gambhir for the coaching staff roles which were denied by BCCI -

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R Vinay Kumar

R Vinay Kumar doesn't have prior experience of leading a top IPL side or a domestic side. It could be the reason behind BCCI rejecting him. Gambhir proposed his name for the bowling coach of India.

The duo had worked together in the past, especially in the IPL 2014 where KKR won the title for the second time. Gautam seemed to be aware of the skills the former Indian pacer could bring to the table. 

Lakshmipathy Balaji

Much like Vinay Kumar, Lakshmipathy Balaji had also worked with Gautam in the past. In the IPL 2012, Balaji played a key role in KKR winning their maiden IPL. In the last few years, Balaji has been a part of CSK. 

The reason behind rejecting Lakshmipathy is not known. For India, the right-arm pacer had some memorable moments. But it looks like his debut as an Indian coach or a support staff might be halted for the time being.

Morne Morkel

Morne Morkel played for KKR in 2014 when they won their second title. Gambhir as a skipper used him well and knew the strengths of the tall bowler. In the last few years, Morkel has been a coach of serveral teams in top leagues and international cricket. 

The South African worked as the bowling coach of Pakistan recently. However, as he isn't an Indian, there is no room for him to be on the support staff of the Indian team. Gambhir played a lot with and against the South African and knew what he could bring to the table.

Ryan Ten Doeschate

Ryan Ten Doeschate has been a long-time friend of the Indian Head coach. He was a part of KKR from 2014 to 2017 as a player. The Dutch was an assistant to the 40-year-old during KKR's title-winning campaign in the IPL 2024.

Additionally, Tendo has been a part of many teams in various leagues like the CPL and the MLC. But given the fact that he isn't an Indian, BCCI didn't consider him to be a personnel in the Indian team's support staff. 

Jonty Rhodes

Jonty Rhodes was the best fielder of his time and probably of all time. Given how important the fielding of a team is, Gambhir felt the need to get the best for the role. Rhodes has the experience of being the fielding coach for several top teams in the world, both at the league level and the international level.

But BCCI rejected Gauti's proposal due to the fact that Rhodes wasn't an Indian. It's a different thing that Rhodes named his daughter 'India'. From the perspective of the fans, letting Rhodes go was the biggest mistake committed by the BCCI in the rejection saga.