3 leading contenders for India's head coach role 

The Indian team has lost four major ICC tournaments in the last four years. With the World Test Championship underway, the speculations of Team India’s head coach position has gripped the cricket lovers across the nation.

BCCI has received many applications for a position in India’s team management. The contract for the current coaching staff led by Ravi Shastri was to cease by World Cup but has been extended by 45 days and the interviews for the role will start by mid-August.

Big names from the applicants for the position include Anil Kumble, Ravi Shastri, Robin Singh, Lalchand Rajput, Tom Moody, Mahela Jayawardene, Gary Kirsten, Michael Hesson, and Stephen Fleming.

Although Ravi Shastri has been touted to continue in the position, there have been certain reports that seem to suggest that Shastri could be shown the door as well, on the back of India's heartbreaking loss in the World Cup against New Zealand.

Here are three big names who could be in line to slot into the role of India's next head coach.

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#3 Gary Kirsten

Gary Kirsten has coached India in the past

Gary Kirsten, under whose guidance India lifted their second World Cup in 2011, is one of the strongest contenders for the head coach position. The ex-South African skipper coached India for three years before he coached South Africa from 2011 to 2013.

Kirsten’s coaching experience has also seen him guide the Delhi Daredevils, Hobart Hurricanes, and Royal Challengers Bangalore as well and with a lot of experience under his belt coupled with prior experience of coaching India, Kirsten stands a good chance of landing the role.

#2 Tom Moody

Tom Moody was an imperative part of SRH's title campaign

Tom Moody was a part of Australia’s World Cup-winning squad in 1987 and 1999. Moody coached Sri Lanka from 2005 and the asked guided the island nation to the finals of the 2007 World Cup.

His stint with IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad was a good one as he guided the franchise to its maiden IPL title in 2016. Tom Moody has over ten years of coaching experience and being an excellent man-manager, he could be a vital addition to India's team management.

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#1 Mike Hesson

Mike Hesson has a lot of experience on the analysis front

Mike Hesson served as the coach of New Zealand Cricket for six years. His efforts took the Kiwis to the 2015 World Cup final. He was one of the most successful coaches for New Zealand. Hesson faced a lot of criticism for recommending Brendon McCullum to take up the captaincy role from Ross Taylor but the rest was history.

Hesson finds the right talent and nurtures them to materialize the domestic success at the international level. As calm as he can get, he will help to inculcate exemplary team culture. His analysis on the pre-match and post-match analysis shows has been spot-on.

Ravi Shastri had mentioned pushing Virat Kohli to number 4 in crunch games as a defensive tactic before the World Cup began. Mike Hesson, powered by his impeccable decision-making skills, can be the change that Indian Cricket Team has longed for.