India's leading cricketers are keen to have Gary Kirsten as their coach beyond 2011 World Cup following news from South Africa that they want to have him as their national team coach.
It is understood that some of the top cricketers, led by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar, have informally asked the BCCI to have the contract with Kirsten renewed even before the World Cup.
Strong contender
Kirsten has emerged as a strong contender to be South Africa's next coach after the present coach Corrie van Zyl's decision to retire after the 2011 World Cup. However, Kirsten has gained in popularity after India's triumph over Australia in the recent series and has also been able to strengthen India's position as the No 1 Test playing nation.
Though BCCI are tightlipped over renewing Kirsten's contract even before the World Cup, it is understood that they may relent to popular demand. Some members in the BCCI want to wait and see India's performance in the World Cup before extending his contract. The players feel that Kirsten is the best among the coaches and hence rather than wait and lose him to some other nation, it would be better to make him sign up for a longer term.
After the Bengaluru Test against Australia, Tendulkar even attributed his recent form to Kirsten's guidance: "Gary (Kirsten) has helped me and he throws millions of balls at the whole team. The bowling machine and Gary are competing about who gets tired. He doesn't seem to get tired. He has been instrumental in my consistency."
It is likely that if India wins the World Cup under Kirsten then his remuneration too may have to be increased. Kirsten took over as India's coach in March 2008 after most of the senior players found Greg Chappell hard to get along with.
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