Bangalore,The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Wednesday formally announced the appointment of former South Africa opener Gary Kirsten as the Indian cricket team coach for two years.

In a statement Niranjan Shah secretary BCCI said Kirsten would take over the reins from March 1.

"Gary will be with the Indian team in Australia as a consultant for a couple of weeks, probably after the second Test match (ending Jan 6)," Shah said.

"Gary will be spending a couple of days with the team at Bangalore during the third Test match (against Pakistan)."

The third test match between India and Pakistan starts at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium Saturday.

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla informed in Kolkata last Saturday that Kirsten had been appointed.

Lalchand Rajput, who guided India to the Twenty20 World Championship in September, is currently the team's coach and manager and will go to Australia as well.

Kirsten, who had not even applied for the post, was called to Delhi recently and interviewed by the board's coach selection committee, led by BCCI president Sharad Pawar.

At least 20 people, including Rajput, had applied for the post that has been lying vacant since March when former Australia captain Greg Chappell decided against seeking a renewal of his two-year tenure.

In his last assignment, India crashed out in the first-round at the World Cup in the West Indies in March.

Former India players Ravi Shastri, Chandu Borde and Rajput have been the temporary cricket managers of the team on tours of Bangladesh, England, South Africa and the home series against Australia and the ongoing series against Pakistan.

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