Not MS Dhoni! Cheteshwar Pujara picks this CSK star as ideal head coach for India in future

Cheteshwar Pujara named ideal candidate to succeed Gautam Gambhir as India’s head coach.

Test specialist batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has revealed the ideal candidate who can become the head coach of the Indian Cricket Team in future. While speaking to ESPNCrinfo, the right-handed batsman said that Ravichandran Ashwin will be a good choice for India’s head coach in future.

During a rapid-fire round, Cheteshwar Pujara was asked some interesting questions about his teammates. When he was asked who is likely to take the role of Indian head coach in future, he chose Ashwin’s name. The latter announced his retirement from international cricket in December last year during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25.

The right-arm spinner ended his career as the second-highest wicket-taker for India, with 765 wickets across three formats. Clinching 537 scalps in test cricket, he also finished as the second-highest wicket-taker for India after Anil Kumble (619).

Notably, Ashwin is often appreciated for his deep technical knowledge of cricket. Currently, the 38-year-old also shares his opinions regarding the Indian Cricket Team on his YouTube channel. Ashwin has been known for his aggressive mindset and approach on the field.

Gautam Gambhir to be head coach of India till ICC Cricket World Cup 2027

Meanwhile, Gautam Gambhir is the current head coach of India, who was appointed for the role in July last year. Under his guidance, India won the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and drew the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025.

Gambhir’s term as Indian Cricket Team’s head coach will end with the conclusion of ICC Cricket World Cup 2027. Notably, many former cricketers have donned the role of head coach of India over the years. Ravi Shastri, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, and Kapil Dev are some former Indian players who have held the post of head coach after their retirement.

Meanwhile, Ashwin was last seen in action during Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, where he played for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Both CSK and Ashwin had a forgettable season. The five-time champions finished in the last spot in the points table. Ashwin picked seven wickets across nine games at an economy of 9.12.

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