Cape Town - Unless there is a drastic turn of events, Gary Kirsten has taken part in his last bilateral series as India's coach.
According to the Cricinfo website, a senior BCCI official confirmed that Kirsten has expressed to the board his desire to not extend his coaching contract with India because of family commitments. In all likelihood, the World Cup will now be his last assignment with India.
"It is a topic that has been discussed at length for a long time. I can confirm that he will not continue his coaching assignment with India after the World Cup," the official said.
The official said that the task of identifying a successor will be an important one because while "his legacy will benefit the successor", Kirsten's will be big boots to fill for any coach. India rose to their much-cherished No 1 ranking in Tests under Kirsten's watch, and developed a habit of often coming back from dire situations.
Media reports have linked Kirsten with a job closer to home, coaching the South African side, who too will be without a coach after the World Cup.
Those speculations gained momentum, especially when CSA extended its deadline for applications for the coaching job from January 7 to February 18.
According to the Cricinfo website, a senior BCCI official confirmed that Kirsten has expressed to the board his desire to not extend his coaching contract with India because of family commitments. In all likelihood, the World Cup will now be his last assignment with India.
"It is a topic that has been discussed at length for a long time. I can confirm that he will not continue his coaching assignment with India after the World Cup," the official said.
The official said that the task of identifying a successor will be an important one because while "his legacy will benefit the successor", Kirsten's will be big boots to fill for any coach. India rose to their much-cherished No 1 ranking in Tests under Kirsten's watch, and developed a habit of often coming back from dire situations.
Media reports have linked Kirsten with a job closer to home, coaching the South African side, who too will be without a coach after the World Cup.
Those speculations gained momentum, especially when CSA extended its deadline for applications for the coaching job from January 7 to February 18.