Bhajji wears too many hats already, Team India coach cap may not fit

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After Gautam Gambhir, another World Cupper and his former teammate Harbhajan Singh won’t mind being coach of the Indian team. There is nothing new about this news as it had appeared at least a couple of days ago that the off-spinner is yet to make his mind up whether to apply for the job or not.

But the interesting part is that like everyone else, Harbhajan too wants an assurance from the BCCI that he will get picked. The former Indian cricketers don’t see the reason to apply for the plum post without appearing before the Cricket Advisory Committee.

The players want to ‘give it back’ to the game but there is a lot more to it. They will get paid over Rs 12 crore annually in addition to other perks and also hold other positions. For example, Harbhajan is a ‘Sansad’, he wants to head the Punjab Cricket Association, and he doesn’t mind becoming India’s head coach and perhaps doing commentary in IPL and getting picked as a minister one day. Can an individual handle so many jobs? Will Harbhajan be ready to let go his MP post like Gambhir?

In India, Harbhajan can’t. He can’t be India coach and president of a state body at the same time. However, outside India, there is a different rule.

Ricky Ponting can be the head coach of an IPL team, do commentary in Big Bash, and be the batting consultant with the Australian cricket team. Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri cited Ponting’s example when he was barred from doing commentary in IPL when he was the Indian coach.

Why this bias towards India? It is the fundamental right for every Indian to have multiple contracts and when our system is allowing foreigners to get that extra rope, why can’t our home-grown talent do multiple jobs?

If Harbhajan is multi-tasking and Sunil Gavaskar isn’t allowed to work both as a commentator and players’ marketing agency owner, it is because there is a conflict of interest. They aren’t job stealers. Just that they can’t wear too many hats!