Former Australian cricketer Michael Hussey has ruled himself out of contention for the role of India’s head coach, joining a list of other Australians who have also turned down the offer. Hussey, currently the batting coach of IPL team Chennai Super Kings, stated that he is not keen on taking up a full-time international coaching role at this stage of his life.
With reports suggesting that Rahul Dravid may not continue as head coach post the T20 World Cup, names like Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer have been linked to the job. However, all of them have denied the offer, citing various reasons. BCCI has also clarified that they have not approached any former Australian cricketer for the position.
Hussey mentioned that he enjoys the balance of coaching as an assistant or head coach while also doing media work. He is currently the head coach of Welsh Fire in The Hundred and a commentator for Fox Cricket during the Australia home summer. Despite the challenging nature of the role, Hussey feels that the constant travel and time away from home would be too demanding.
In addition to the Australians, Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara was also asked about the coaching role with the Indian team, but he too declined due to time constraints. BCCI secretary Jay Shah emphasized the thorough process of finding the right coach for the national team, focusing on individuals with a deep understanding of Indian cricket structure.