Pravin Amre, Surender Khanna latest to join musical chairs

Former India cricketer Pravin Amre and ex-India wicketkeeper Surender Khanna are the latest inclusions in the list of contenders for the role of Team India’s head coach.

“Yes, I have applied for the job,” said Amre, who comes with a remarkable resume as a coach in the domestic circuit.

The 47-year-old, who fine-tuned the likes of Robin Uthappa and Ajinkya Rahane, will compete for the principal post with Sandeep Patil, Ravi Shastri, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, Venkatesh Prasad and Lalchand Rajput.

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“On June 1, BCCI made the announcement to welcome applications for Team India’s head coach. First, we apply and then we have to come with our presentation before the BCCI,” said Amre, who played 11 Tests and 37 ODIs for India.

The position remained vacant after Duncan Fletcher’s contract expired last year with the conclusion of ICC World Cup Down Under. Shastri (Team Director), Sanjay Bangar (batting coach), Bharat Arun (bowling coach) and R Sridhar (fielding coach) filled in since his departure.

Check out: Here's the entire list of former cricketers who have applied for Team India's head coach position

Amre, on his credentials said: “I have worked with the Mumbai Ranji team. I have recently completed specialised coaching in batting.”

Known for his gritty batting and a debut ton against the pace attack comprising Allan Donald and Brett Schultz in Durban (1992), Amre spoke on how Indian can perform better overseas.

“We have definitely improved from the past. When we are abroad, there will be special inputs.”

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Amre cited Rahane’s twin half-centuries in Durban (2013) to substantiate his stance.

“Along with Virat Kohli, Rahane is one of the key players in India’s batting unit. He worked very hard for the last three years to reach this level. The inputs I gave him worked,” Amre added.

Amre also served as assistant coach of IPL franchise Delhi Daredevils. Jayant Yadav, one of his lads, is also in the Indian team for the Zimbabwe tour starting on June 11. He is one of the finest talents in India’s spin department. Whenever he got an opportunity, he did well. In fact, he was the one who bowled in tough situations, like the powerplay, to the likes of David Warner.

“Credit should also be given to Robin because he was willing to make corrections (to his technique). To give a suggestion is easy but to implement it, is difficult. He worked hard because it needed a lot of physical time and readiness to overcome the mental barriers.”

Apart from Amre, there are four other Mumbai cricketers who are in the race for the lucrative designation.

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The pressure to handle the Mumbai team is the biggest challenge because of the expectations, considering they won Ranji trophy 41 times. We learnt a lot by being a part of the Mumbai cricket,” he asserted.

A hard-hitting opener in his time, Khanna has not had the coaching experience the others may, but his aggressive approach to cricket made him a standout talent for years. He was man of the series in the first Asia Cup in Sharjah besides being a pillar of Delhi and North Zone cricket. Khanna was a member of Delhi’s maiden Ranji Trophy-winning team in 1978-79.