It’s time or it’s too early to take a call on India Cricket Team support staff? While fans have demanded a change in hands in Indian support staff after an embarrassing WTC Final loss to Australia, BCCI will discuss the matter internally. For now, the two major figures in the Indian dressing room, batting coach Vikram Rathour and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey are under scanner. Head coach Rahul Dravid is safe till World Cup 2023 but a BCCI official has confirmed that any slip-ups could lead to his axe after the mega event.
A senior BCCI official explained that the situation is not that bad to invoke a mass firing. Instead, they have their backs. However, after yet another failure in an ICC event, BCCI wants to discuss Rathour and Mhambrey’s positions with 4 months to go for World Cup.
Current Indian Support Staff:
- Head Coach: Rahul Dravid
- Batting coach: Vikram Rathour
- Bowling coach: Paras Mhambrey
- Fielding coach: T Dilip
“It’s not that simple. We can’t say they have not been up to the mark. We have won in India. Reaching the final of the World Test Championship is not a joke.
But the performance overseas has not been satisfactory. At the same time, we have to consider the fact that we have a World Cup in four months’ time and we cannot have a knee-jerk reaction. But there will be internal discussions for sure,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.
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However, it should be noted that during Vikram Rathour’s tenure as the batting coach, Indian batters have not only failed to shine, there have been bad patches of almost all top players. That Indian Top 5 have been struggling abroad has been another concern in Tests.
For Mhambrey, he had big shoes to fill after Bharat Arun stepped down. However, apart from some notable performances, his tenure has been injury-plagued. Furthermore, apart from spin-friendly conditions, Indian bowling unit has not been in great in overseas or tough bowling conditions.
From the best fielding side in the world under R Sridhar, India have become a pretty ordinary fielding sides under T Dilip. T20 World Cup, Asia Cup and WTC Final were some of the examples.
India WTC Final debacle: Why Indian support staff are under fire?
- One of the major contesting factors is the lack of Plan B.
- The team management has not managed to find answers after Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant suffered long-term injuries.
- Instead of looking at different options, India have stuck to their guns even after repeated failures.
- There have been questionable team selections as well.
- In Australia, Yuzvendra Chahal warmed the bench throughout T20 WC.
- At WTC Final, India did not pick their best bowler Ravichandran Ashwin.
- Furthermore, despite KS Bharat’s failure, Wriddhiman Saha was not even considered in Pant’s absence.
What about Rahul Dravid?
India’s head coach’s position is safe, for now. Despite losing Asia Cup, T20 World Cup and WTC Final, the board still has trust in the former India skipper. With Dravid’s contract expiring in November with the World Cup, he is safe till then. What happens after that depends a lot on the World Cup result.
India as hosts are favourites to win the World Cup title. But any slip-ups will end up costing his job, for sure.
Before World Cup, India play in Asia Cup 2023. Once again, India will be favourites with Pakistan being the only tough opponent in the tournament.
While Asia Cup won’t decide Dravid’s fate, another failure can lead to his sacking post-World Cup even if India end up winning the title.
There are also thoughts that Dravid could step down post-World Cup. With a lot of travelling involved, a family man Dravid may not want to continue.
“We have not had any discussion with Rahul. Of course, he will be the head coach till World Cup. Whether he stays on depends on him and World Cup result. For now, there is no question about him,” the official said.
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