BCCI to seek new men’s head coach soon, Rahul Dravid may reapply

JJay Shah and Rahul Dravid. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is preparing for a significant change in the leadership of the Indian cricket team. As revealed by the BCCI secretary Jay Shah, the board will soon release an advertisement inviting applications for the crucial role of head coach for the senior men’s team.

The current head coach, Rahul Dravid, who took over the responsibility in November 2021, has a contract that expires June 2024. Shah confirmed that Dravid is free to reapply for the position if he desires to continue guiding the talented Indian side.

However, the BCCI is keeping its options open, welcoming applications from both domestic and international candidates.

“Rahul’s tenure is only up to June. So if he wants to apply, he is free to do so,” the BCCI secretary said as quoted by Cricbuzz.

“We cannot determine whether the new coach will be Indian or foreign. It will be up to the CAC, and we are a global body,” he further added.

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The decision on the coaching staff, including the batting, bowling, and fielding coaches, will be made after consulting with the newly appointed head coach. Shah hinted that the BCCI is likely to prefer a single coach for all formats, deviating from the approach adopted by boards like the ECB and PCB, which have separate coaches for different formats.

“That decision will also be made by the CAC. There are many all-format players, like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Rishabh Pant, among others. Moreover, there is no precedent for such a situation in India,” he further continued.

New head coach to be appointed for three-year period

Shah confirmed that the new head coach of the Men in Blue will be appointed on a three-year contract, indicating a long-term commitment to the successful candidate. This decision highlights the board’s desire for stability and continuity in the leadership of the Indian team. 

Dravid, whose initial contract was set to expire after the conclusion of the 2023 ODI World Cup, had been granted an extension until the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and West Indies. During Dravid’s tenure as head coach, India had risen to the top of the Test (currently 2nd), ODI, and T20I rankings.

However, they were unable to secure any ICC trophies, finishing as semi-finalists in the 2022 T20 World Cup and runners-up in both the 2023 World Test Championship and the 2023 ODI World Cup. India’s campaign in the ODI World Cup was particularly impressive, as they won all nine league matches and the semi-final before losing the final to Australia.