Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni: Fake India coach applicants use famous names

As the deadline for applying for the post ended on Monday (May 27), it is understood that the BCCI received multiple applications in the names of Tendulkar, Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag, among other ex-cricketers. The long list also features the names of politicians like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah.

On May 13, the BCCI had invited applications for the job on Google forms and witnessed a large number of fake applicants for the post on a daily basis.

What is not clear at this stage is whether the BCCI has received any applications from genuine candidates who are interested in the responsibility.

This is not the first time that the Indian board has had to deal with fake applicants which cost them a lot of time to scrutinise them. In 2022 when the BCCI had invited applications for the post of head coach, they had received around 5,000 applications from imposters using celebrity names. While the BCCI back then had asked the interested candidates to mail their applications, this time it used Google forms.

“Last year too, the BCCI received such a response where imposters applied and the story is similar this time. The reason the BCCI had to invite applications on Google forms is it’s easy to scrutinise the names of applicants in one sheet,” a BCCI official said.

In its advertisement, the board has outlined the qualities it was looking for in the head coach of the team to be in charge till the 2027 50-over World Cup in South Africa.

Some of the most notable requirements for the new head coach listed by the BCCI were: the candidate “must be willing to meet work expectations and pressures associated with handling marquee athletes”; and they should help in “developing a world-class Indian cricket team which delivers sustained success in all conditions and formats, inspiring current and future generations of cricketers and stakeholders with their approach to the game.”

The next head coach will begin his tenure soon after the T20 World Cup in the USA and Caribbean next month. The incumbent Rahul Dravid, whose tenure began in December 2021, has decided against seeking an extension.