Team India coach: Rahul Dravid to coach India once again – In just 32 days, Team India will be without any coaching staff, a head coach and a T20I captain as current head coach Ravi Shastri and skipper Virat Kohli have already decided to step down after the T20 World Cup. With the New Zealand series scheduled to begin just three days after the T20 World Cup final (October 14) and Shastri refusing to take any extension, the BCCI has requested a reluctant Rahul Dravid to take charge for the New Zealand series.
“Yes, Rahul has been approached for the role for at least the New Zealand series till we confirm a coach for the South Africa series,” a top BCCI official told InsideSport.
Team India next coach: BCCI official confirms, Rahul Dravid set to take charge of Team India for New Zealand series
Team India coach: With IPL 2021 and T20 World Cup, the BCCI hasn’t had a lot of time to mull over the coaching role even though Rohit Sharma is the next unannounced captain. BCCI president Sourav Ganguly wanted current Punjab Kings coach Anil Kumble to take charge of Team India but his record in the IPL and past feud with Virat Kohli have led other BCCI officials to oppose the idea.
Team India coach: There is not enough time to select a foreign coach with BCCI busy with the T20 World Cup. BCCI hasn’t even started with an advertisement inviting applications for India head coach job even though the likes of Tom Moody, Lance Klusener are ready to pounce on the opportunity. Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting also seems to be interested. But BCCI officials believe foreign coaches won’t be able to have such a long commitment especially with Virat Kohli & Co playing over 50 matches a season.
Team India next coach: BCCI official confirms, Rahul Dravid set to take charge of Team India for New Zealand series
“Rahul will be in charge for the series and a CAC will follow the process for the new coach in the meantime. Rahul had apprehensions about taking over the role permanently as he will not be able to commit full time away from his family,” the official told InsideSport.
While Rahul Dravid hasn’t yet confirmed he will take charge, BCCI is hopeful that he will not refuse requests from his good friend Sourav Ganguly, the current BCCI president. As for the supporting staff, the NCA coaches including Paras Mhambrey will be with Virat Kohli & Co.
“Rahul hasn’t confirmed the role yet. But we are hopeful that he will. If the recruitment process isn’t complete by the South Africa series, we will request him to continue for the time being. The NCA staff will be with him to assist during the New Zealand series,” the official added.
Thus, looking at Indian prospects makes sense with the likes of VVS Laxman, Anil Kumble’s names doing the rounds. But neither of them had a great season with their respective IPL franchises Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Team India coach: BCCI requests Rahul Dravid to take charge post T20 World Cup
- BCCI has requested Rahul Dravid to take charge for the NZ series.
- With Ravi Shastri set to step down after the T20 World Cup, BCCI is yet to appoint some one for the job.
- With no advertisement from the BCCI despite interests from top coaches, nobody has yet applied for the role.
- Anil Kumble has been ruled out as many in the BCCI opposes his name. Only President Sourav Ganguly is interested in taking up the role.
- India will play New Zealand in the T20I series just three days after the T20 World Cup final.
- As BCCI is busy with the IPL and T20 WC, it hasn’t been able to mull over coach’s selection.
- Ravi Shastri has also refused to take any extension, Virat Kohli & Co will be without a coach for the T20I series.
Also Read: T20 World Cup: On his last assignment as India coach, Ravi Shastri reaches Dubai with high-hopes
Team India coach: The only available coach with strong credentials is Rahul Dravid whom every player including Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma respect. Many of the players in the current India setup including Mohammed Siraj, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer have played under him for India A while Rahul Dravid has seen KL Rahul up close during his early days of Karnataka’s age group cricket.
Team India coach: As for the permanent role, Rahul Dravid hasn’t shown interest in the job. During the Sri Lanka tour, he was asked if he would be interested in taking up the role but he refused to give a straight answer. After the limited-overs series in Sri Lanka, Dravid had gone on record saying, “there are a lot of challenges in doing full-time roles, so I really don’t know”.
Later, Dravid re-applied for the role of head of NCA in Bengaluru, indicating that he was not interested in taking over from Ravi Shastri full-time. “Dravid has applied for NCA. He wants to stay in that position. He has done great job with India A cricketers, created a complete supply chain for the Indian team, he wants to continue with that,” a senior official from BCCI informed InsideSport.in.
