Current Indian women’s cricket team coach WV Raman remains a strong candidate to continue his post as the head coach but he is now facing some close competition from former coaches Ramesh Powar and Tushar Arothe who are trying to get back into the role.
Reports have also emerged that there has been hues and cries from certain quarters to appoint a woman as the head coach of the Indian women’s cricket team. Meanwhile, former Indian international players like Nooshim Al Khadeer, Hemalatha Kala, Mamatha Maben, Jaya Sharma and domestic coach Surendra Bhave are in contention to replace WV Raman.
The candidates will be giving an interview to the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) in the next two weeks and it remains to be seen whether WV Raman is replaced with a woman.
Ever since the removal of Purnima Rau in 2017, the Women’s team has been managed by a male coach with as many as three coming into the foray during that period. While Arothe stepped down from the post due to differences with the team, Ramesh Powar’s contract was not extended after the 2018 T20 World Cup after a public fallout with then ODI skipper Mithali Raj.
Ever since Powar’s removal, WV Raman has been in charge of the team and it was under his tutelage that the Women’s team reached the final of the T20 World Cup in 2020 only to lose to Australia in the final.
The ODI World Cup is slated to be held in New Zealand in less than a year’s time and by the look of things, WV Raman has the backing of BCCI and the players and is set to continue as the head coach. However, there has been a push from the women’s selection committee to include female personnel in the coaching group.