Reports: Mike Hesson to apply for the position of India’s head coach

Mike Hesson, the former New Zealand coach, is set to apply for the role of the Indian cricket team’s head coach. Ravi Shastri is currently in the position for almost a couple of years after Anil Kumble resigned from his role following an altercation with Indian captain Virat Kohli. Meanwhile, the last date of application for the post on July 30 with Shastri getting a direct entry in the interview.

As far as Hesson is concerned, he was the head coach of the Black Caps for six years. In 2015, under his tutelage, the Kiwis made their first-ever World Cup final, though Australia defeated them at the MCG. He took over from John Wright way back in 2012 and resigned in 2018 after a wonderful stint.

Hesson made his comeback into the coaching arena earlier this year and is currently associated with the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in the cash-rich and prestigious Indian Premier League (IPL). It has been learned that Hesson is very keen to work with the high-profile Men in Blue at the highest level.

He’ll love to work with a high-profile team like India

“Hesson is very much interested in applying for the head coach’s position. He has spent a couple of months in India already working with Kings XI in IPL as well as doing television work with the hosts broadcasters,” a source, privy to the development, was quoted as saying in CricketNext.

“He’ll love to work with a high-profile team like India after a highly successful stint with New Zealand. Hesson and his agent need to be convinced about the conditions of the job as laid down by the BCCI. But chances are that they will be sending their application in soon,” the source added.

However, Hesson has to encounter a roadblock on his way of becoming the head coach. Any coach involved with an IPL franchise needs to provide an affidavit to clear him of potential ‘conflict of interest’. Earlier this year, Gary Kirsten applied for the women’s coach’s job even when he was employed with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL itself. Kirsten, the 2011 World Cup-winning coach, couldn’t accept the position as he wasn’t able to fulfill the terms of the affidavit.