If Gary Kirsten accepts Board of Control for Cricket in India's offer to become India's new coach, he could join the team as early as next week.

• Earlier report: Kirsten tipped as next India coach

The former South African opener is set to take up his new post on December 3 so as to get enough time to familiarise with the team before they embark on the tough tour to Australia later next month.

40-year-old Kirsten was interviewed in New Delhi on Monday night by BCCI's coach selection committee meeting comprising Sunil Gavaskar [Images], Ravi Shastri, S Venkataraghavan, BCCI joint secretary MP Pandove, treasure N Srinivasan and secretary Niranjan Shah in a closely-guarded secret meeting.

Reportedly, the BCCI committee has been impressed by Kirsten, who runs a cricket academy in Cape Town.

He also held a coaching clinic with the Zimbabwe cricket team earlier this year.

Apparently, everything related to the appointment has been confirmed, but the BCCI is waiting for the final nod from Kirsten before making it public. In the past, BCCI had another South African Graham Ford as the coach before he backed out after the announcement was made.

Kirsten would enjoy the same terms and remuneration as former coach Greg Chappell [Images]. He would also get a two-year contract with an option to extend it for another depending on the review of his term.

Kirsten, who is regarded one of South African's top batsmen, retired from international cricket in 2004. He played 101 Tests and 185 ODIs in a career spanning nearly a decade.

If he takes up the offer he will be India's third foreign coach in succession after New Zealand's [Images] John Wright [Images] and Australian Greg Chappell.

Mumbai's Lalchand Rajput is currently serving as the cricket manager for the Pakistan's tour of India.