‘I don’t have time to commit full-time’ – Kumar Sangakkara reveals he is not interested in India head coach job

Kumar Sangakkara. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

After the conclusion of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, the Indian men’s senior team will undergo a change in their coaching staff. Current head coach Rahul Dravid will be leaving the position vacant after the World Cup, and the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) is looking for a replacement.

The likes of Gautam Gambhir, Stephen Fleming, and many more prospects have been reportedly discussed, and former Sri Lanka cricketer and current Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara has been reported to be another candidate.

However, the former cricketer has come forward and opted out of the race, opining that he does not have time to commit to a full-time assignment internationally.

“I have not been approached and I don’t have time to commit full-time to an India coaching job. Happy with my stint with Royals and let’s see how it goes.” Sangakkara said in the presser after qualifier 2 of the IPL 2024.

It is worth noting that Kumar Sangakkara has done a commendable job for Rajasthan Royals, leading them to a final in 2022, and the playoffs in 2024.

Sandeep has been absolutely outstanding for us: Sangakkara

Rajasthan Royals’ IPL 2024 campaign came to an end after the side was eliminated from the tournament after facing defeat in qualifier 2. The inaugural champions faced Sunrisers Hyderabad in the do-or-die clash for a spot in the final, and despite RR’s best efforts, Hyderabad emerged victorious.

After the clash, Kumar Sangakkara came forward to heap praise on RR’s performance with the ball, pointing out the spell of Sandeep Sharma and how excellent he has been for the franchise.

“I think it’s just a case of changing his role. We always knew that a lot of sides used him upfront, but with his pace and skill, we identified that he will be very, very effective for us in the middle and at the back end,” Sangakkara said.

“We didn’t have the services of Prasidh Krishna again. Navdeep Saini was injured, and he was coming back from a big shoulder injury and came [in] halfway through the season. For two seasons now, Sandeep has been absolutely outstanding for us,” he added.