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'He doesn't want to leave Nehra's friendship' - Fans react as Gary Kirsten refuses Indian Women's head coach role due to IPL commitments

Former Indian men's cricket team coach Gary Kristen has refused to take up the role of the Indian women's cricket team head coach.

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Gary Kirsten with Team India

Gary Kirsten with Team India (Source: Twitter)

Gary Kirsten with Team India Gary Kirsten with Team India (Source: Twitter)

The Indian Cricket Board is in the process of finding the next head coach for the Indian women's cricket team. According to the latest reports, the board officials approached Indian men's cricket team's former head coach Gary Kirsten to take up the role but he turned down the offer due to his commitments to other league cricket. Meanwhile, former English cricketer Charlotte Edwards has joined the race for the new position.

ESPNcricinfo reported that India's cricket governing body was keen to bring the former South African cricketer to guide the senior Indian women's team, but he is busy with the Indian Premier League (IPL) and other leagues around the world. Kirsten is currently the batting coach and mentor of the IPL franchise Gujarat Titans (GT).

The former Proteas coach was appointed by the Ahmedabad-based team in January 2022 and played a key role alongside head coach Ashish Nehra in helping his team win the title in their first season. GT also finished runners-up in the IPL 2023 after a dominating campaign throughout the season.

Kristen was the coach of the Indian men's cricket team from 2008 to 2011. He also directed MS Dhoni and his team to the ODI World Cup triumph in 2011. The 55-year-old was then appointed as the coach of the South African cricket team in June 2011, and he stepped down in August 2013 to focus on franchise cricket leagues.

Charlotte Edwards, Amol Mazumdar in contention for new head coach role

Along with Charlotte Edwards, former Indian cricketer Amol Mazumdar is also said to be in contention to take over the role from the acting head coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar. Harmanpreet Kaur and the team have been coached by Kanitkar since Ramesh Powar left the post last December to join the National Cricket Academy as spin bowling coach under the legendary batter VVS Laxman.

However, it remains uncertain whether the Indian Cricket Board will ultimately select the former English cricketer and commentator Edwards for their upcoming endeavours. The 43-year-old headed the Mumbai Indians (MI) squad in the inaugural season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023. It is learned that the new coach will be given a two-year contract.

Here's how fans reacted: 

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