Gary Kirsten played 101 Tests and 185 one-dayers for South Africa

He has signed despite some reservations about the attitude of the players, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India confirmed his role on Wednesday.

"It will be a great honour to coach the game's most passionately supported team," said the 40-year-old Kirsten.

"I can't wait to take on what I know will be one of the biggest challenges of my ongoing career in cricket."

Kirsten, interviewed on 26 November, will join up with the India team for the last two Tests of their upcoming visit to Australia, which start on 16 and 24 January.

"I'll be with the team during the third and fourth Tests to facilitate the transition," he said.

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"A plan will also be made for me to meet with the Indian team before they leave for Australia on 17 December."

Kirsten's first full series in charge will be when his home country tours India after he officially takes up his position on 1 March.

"I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to that. It will undoubtedly be a special series for me," he said.

India have been without a full-time overall coach since Greg Chappell resigned after their early World Cup exit in March.

Ironically, they have enjoyed a fine run of success since then with specialist fielding and bowling coaches, and a team manager.

They won a Test series in England, the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 and beat Pakistan in a home one-day series.

They currently lead Pakistan 1-0 in an ongoing Test series.

I have no concerns what the players think about my appointment Gary Kirsten

After retiring from international cricket in March 2004, Kirsten set up his own cricket academy in Cape Town, and has been doing consultancy work for various sporting bodies.

He has also been a batting coach for the Warriors in Port Elizabeth but has never been overall coach of a team, let alone a Test side.

Many names have been linked to the India role in the past few months.

Graeme Ford and John Emburey were interviewed in June, but neither wanted the job.

Since then, Maharashtra coach Chandrakant Pandit, former Queensland academy boss Richard Done, Leicestershire coach Tim Boon, former Test batsman Kepler Wessels, Queensland coach Terry Oliver, Canterbury coach Dave Nosworthy and former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe have applied.

Kirsten's appointment was put in question when he appeared to have doubts over whether he would get the support of India's players.

But the obstacles to his appointment have now been ironed out with the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) in India.