Why Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag cannot become Team India’s head coach?

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has started to think of the future after India’s exit in the semi-final in the ICC World Cup 2019 which concluded a few days ago. The next assignment for the Men in Blue will be the full tour of West Indies and the contracts of the head coach Ravi Shastri, assistant coach Sanjay Bangar, bowling coach Bharat Arun and fielding coach R Sridhar have expired.

The staff received an extension of 45 days, but a couple of days ago, the BCCI put out an advertisement for the new coaching staff. However, the likes of Ravi Shastri and other support staff have been given direct entry and will be eligible for selection, if they wish to reapply. The Men in Blue won ODI series in Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand and also won the Asia Cup. India registered a historic Test series victory in Australia in addition to winning Test matches in England and Australia.

There are also clamors of appointing former India cricketers like Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman, and others as part of supporting staff given their experience and their pedigree in reinvigorating the Indian cricket post the match-fixing controversy in 2000. Given that Indian team had failed to win any of the ICC tournaments after their Champions Trophy 2013 win, things are pointing towards the board looking for fresh ideas.

Why Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag and others cannot become the coach?

Despite calls for Ganguly and Sehwag and others to take over the reins of the Indian team once again, there are some rules laid down by the BCCI in their advertisement for the same, that will keep it from happening. There are some criteria that a coach must fulfill to become Men in Blue coach.

Here are the criteria:

1. Head Coach of a full member Test Playing Nation for a minimum period of 2 years OR;
2. Head Coach of an Associate member /IPL or Equivalent International Leagues/First Class Teams/ National A teams, for a minimum period of 3 years
3. Should have played a minimum of 30 Test Matches OR 50 ODIS OR;
4. Should have BCCI Level 3 Certification or equivalent
5. Below 60 years of age

Despite Ganguly and Sehwag being under the age of 60 and have played more than 30 Tests and 50 ODIs, neither of them has any coaching certification nor have coached any international or IPL side in a head coach capacity. Ganguly has been associated with Delhi Capitals as a mentor, while Sehwag was the mentor of Kings XI Punjab for a while. Thus neither of the two legendary players can apply for the post.