The legendary Australian Ricky Ponting has disclosed that he was contacted about taking over as head coach of India, a role that will soon become available, but he turned down the offer since it didn’t fit into his “lifestyle” at the time.

Ponting was Australia’s temporary T20 coach in the past and most recently wrapped up seven seasons as the head coach of the Delhi Capitals IPL team.He did not clarify if the BCCI was the source of the feelers for the India post.

“…there were a few little one-on-one conversations during the IPL, just to get a level of interest from me as to whether I would do it,” Ponting told the ICC.

“I’d love to be a senior coach of a national team, but with the other things that I have in my life and wanting to have a bit of time at home…everyone knows if you take a job working with the Indian team, you can’t be involved in an IPL team, so it would take that out of it as well.

“Also, a national head coach is a 10 or 11-month of the year job, and as much as I’d like to do it, it just doesn’t fit into my lifestyle right now and the things that I really enjoy doing,” he added.
According to Ponting, he spoke with his son about the offer, and the latter appeared open to moving to India.
“My family and my kids have spent the last five weeks over at the IPL with me and they come over every year and I had a whisper to my son about it,” he recalled.

“I said, ‘Dad’s been offered the Indian coaching job’ and he said, ‘Just take it dad, we would love to move over there for the next couple of years’,” Ponting quipped.
“That’s how much they love being over there and the culture of cricket in India, but right now it probably doesn’t exactly fit into my lifestyle,” he added.
Other well-known figures have also been mentioned as possible contenders for the post that Rahul Dravid will leave behind following India’s T20 World Cup campaign next month. These include Kolkata Knight Riders mentor Gautam Gambhir, head coach of the Lucknow Super Giants Justin Langer, and head coach of the Chennai Super Kings, Stephen Fleming.

The deadline for applications is May 27 according to the BCCI.
“I’ve seen a few other names thrown about as well. Justin Langer’s name got thrown in yesterday, Stephen Fleming’s name has been thrown about a little bit,” Ponting noted.
“Gautam Gambhir’s name has been thrown around a little bit the last couple of days as well. But I think it’d be unlikely for me just on the reasons that I’ve given there.”