The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has received an overwhelming number of applications for the Team India head coach position after posting an advertisement for the role. The application deadline was May 27.

The BCCI received around 3,000 applications, thanks to the decision to post a Google form on its website earlier this month, which encouraged interested candidates to apply.

Amid this influx, the BCCI now faces the challenge of filtering out numerous fake applications that included names of well-known personalities such as cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni, as well as political figures like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

An official from the BCCI, quoted by the Indian Express, mentioned that this issue of imposters is not new and that the use of Google forms helps streamline the process by consolidating all applications into a single sheet for easier review.

The application period for the coaching role closed on May 27, concluding a highly active phase for the cricketing community. Despite the large number of applications, it has been confirmed that current head coach Rahul Dravid has chosen not to reapply, preferring to spend more time with his family. Dravid’s term is set to end following the T20 World Cup in 2024.

The BCCI has not yet released the names of genuine applicants, leading to ongoing speculation about the next Team India head coach.

The new head coach’s term will last three and a half years, starting on July 1, 2024, and ending on December 31, 2027.