Former India fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad has denied applying for the position of the Indian team's head coach. Earlier on Thursday, media reports claimed that current junior national chief selector Prasad has applied for Team India's head coach's post, which was lying vacant since Anil Kumble stepped down on June 20 blaming a breakdown in his relationship with captain Virat Kohli for his exit.
However, Prasad confirmed to indiatvnews.com that he has indeed not applied for the coveted post. The 47-year-old Prasad has played 33 Tests and 162 ODIs for India and is set to finish his three-year term as the junior India chief selector in September this year.
He had previously worked in the capacity of the bowling coach of the Indian team.
Meanwhile, former India team director Ravi Shastri is the latest to throw his hat into the ring. The 55-year-old former captain served as the Director of the Indian team between 2014 and 2016 where he led the team to the semi-finals of the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Under his observation, India also reached the semi-finals of the 2016 World T20 at home and Virat Kohli's Test side won an away Test series against Sri Lanka after 22 years.
Shastri was appointed as the team director in August, 2014 and remained in the position till the completion of the World T20 in April, 2016.
Shastri had also applied for the job in 2016 but legendary leg-spinner Kumble was chosen over him by the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), which includes Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman.
The head coach position has been vacant since Kumble's resignation following India's 180-run defeat against arch-rivals Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final at the Oval on June 18.
Former Indian cricketer Lalchand Rajput, Dodda Ganesh, Richard Pybus and Tom Moody and former opener Virender Sehwag have all applied for the post.
The last date for applying for the post of India head coach is July 9.
The BCCI has already stated that Team India will get its new head coach before their tour to Sri Lanka in July.
