Wright emerges strong contender to coach Kolkata Knight Riders

KOLKATA - Former India cricket coach John Wright has emerged a strong contender for the coach’s job in the Indian Premier League (IPL) side Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the coming season.

Sources in the team said KKRs icon player Sourav Ganguly, who has been entrusted with the task of finding a replacement for sacked coach John Buchanan, is favouring the New Zealander for the key post.

However, when asked about Wright, Ganguly said: Nothing has been finalised so far.

Wright and Ganguly shared a good rapport during the Kiwis stint as Indian coach, when Ganguly was the captain of the side.

Buchanan lost his job after KKR finished last in the second edition of the IPL held earlier this year in South Africa.

Ganguly, who led KKR in the inaugral IPL last year, was stripped of the captaincy as Buchanan first spoke of multiple captains in the run up to the Johannesburg tourney, and then played a key role in installing New Zealander Brendon MacCullum.

Ganguly has already held a round of talks with KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan on the coach issue. The two are scheduled to meet again soon.

The sources said there was also a possibility of the team having an assistant coach from among former Indian players.

Speculation is also rife that Ganguly is set to get back the captaincy next year, though there is no official confirmation.