The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is on the lookout for a new head coach to lead the Indian cricket team after Rahul Dravid‘s tenure concludes following the T20 World Cup in June. However, filling Dravid’s shoes might prove to be a tricky task for the BCCI.
Search begins for India next head coach
Applications for the coveted position are now open, with a deadline set for May 27th, 2024. Dravid, who enjoyed a successful stint leading India Cricket Team, saw his contract extended after the 2023 ODI World Cup, but it reaches its end this summer.
Challenges in finding right fit for BCCI
While coaching India is a highly sought-after position, the BCCI faces a significant challenge in finding Dravid’s successor.
According to various reports, the board’s earlier attempts encountered resistance from renowned coaches hesitant to commit ten months a year to a national team, especially considering the BCCI’s preference for a long-term contract (3.5 years).
All-Format Burden for India Head coach
Coaches vetted by the BCCI expressed concerns about the workload associated with managing a national team across all formats. The lure of potentially shorter commitments with Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises or other leagues makes the national team head coach role less appealing for some.
Split Coaching: Not considered by BCCI
With a jam-packed schedule of major tournaments across all formats looming in the next three years, the idea of split coaching has been floated to manage the workload. However, BCCI has made their stance clear in their recent release. As the Indian board is clearly seeking out for all-format coaching role, ruling out the split coaching option.
Without split coaching, not many foreign coaches will be interested in coaching India Cricket Team, that’s for sure. Hence, the BCCI will ultimately have to be dependent on India legends to coach the team.
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Will BCCI Find its Next Coaching Gem?
Whether the BCCI, finds a suitable successor for Rahul Dravid who can replicate his success and manage the demands of the role will be a key test for the Indian cricket board.