In what appears to be the most critical event in Indian cricket in recent times, former India captain Rahul Dravid has agreed to take over as head coach of the national team. The development took place next to the 14th Indian Premier League final on Friday night.
Speaking to ANI, sources familiar with the development confirmed that the head of the NCA is ready to take over as a national team coach.
"Dravid has agreed, and it will not be fair. Other positions will now be considered while Vikram remains as a striking coach. The Indian team is in a state of transformation with the incoming youth, and they are all working with Dravid, and it will be much easier for Indian cricket to continue its world-class career," the source said.
The BCCI always nominated Dravid, but it seems it took Secretary Jay Shah and President Sourav Ganguly to sit down and talk to the former captain before he agreed to wear a total cap after visiting Sri Lanka with the limited-overs series recently during a significant team trip to England.
"Jay and Sourav talked to him, and it was about Dravid's confidence because it takes a lot of time as you need to stay on the move. But things have gone well, and Dravid has always kept the interest of Indian cricket high, so it has made things easier as the team will do well if someone like him leads the boys," he said. Source.
Current coach, Ravi Shastri's contract expires at the T20 World Cup starting on Sunday. BCCI hosts the tournament in Oman and the UAE. India will open its T20 World Cup campaign against Pakistan on October 24 in Dubai. After the upcoming T20 World Cup, Virat Kohli will relinquish his position as captain of the team in a shorter format.
The Indian cricket board may approach Rahul Dravid to become an interim coach for the home game of India and New Zealand. Head coach Ravi Shastri and the core of the support staff will continue after the T20 World Cup, but the board has realized that the search for a new coach may take longer than expected, which is why it is looking for an experienced hand like Dravid, who treats it as a stop-fix.
It has been found that a few Australian coaches are showing interest in the job, but BCCI is unwilling as they are focused on India in this role before they look elsewhere. The BCCI wanted Dravid to be the full coach of the Indian team, but he refused, it is learned, as he did not want to go too far.
Dravid is the head of the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.
Eventually, the Indian board went to a few coaches again, but they would not respond well.
The BCCI has not officially released the coach's advertisement but has been looking for a candidate for the bill. The Indian cricket board begins by finding suitable candidates for the election before placing an ad.
"We wanted the candidate to see that he or she was better suited for the job and first to approve (apply for that job)," said a BCCI official explaining their idea of delaying the ad. “We do not want a situation where we receive applications, but no one seems qualified. It will be a disgrace to the board and the candidates. So it is better to find a candidate first. Until then, Dravid can be an interim coach, ”said a BCCI official.
The board initially looked at whether it might ask Shastri to continue until that New Zealand series but has since changed its mind. Dravid coached India's second-tier Indian team in Sri Lanka when the senior team played in Australia earlier this year. India is scheduled to play two Tests and three T20s against New Zealand shortly after the T20 World Cup.
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