The Indian cricket team is set to bid farewell to its head coach, Rahul Dravid, after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup in June. Dravid has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of his decision to step down, citing personal reasons.
Dravid's decision comes as a surprise, as he had previously agreed to an extension of his contract beyond the 2023 World Cup. However, sources close to the team reveal that Dravid had expressed his desire to spend more time with his family even before the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in March.
The BCCI has officially invited applications for the head coach position, with May 27 set as the deadline. Last week, BCCI secretary Jay Shah stated that Dravid "will have to re-apply" if he wants an extension. This announcement raised eyebrows, as it was widely expected that Dravid would continue in his role.
The Hindu understands that Dravid had clarified his decision to step down well in advance due to personal reasons. Despite requests from senior players to reconsider, Dravid remained firm in his decision.
Had Dravid agreed to an extension, the BCCI may have considered having separate coaches for limited-over and Test match formats. However, as per Shah's statement, there will only be one head coach across all formats, with the appointment lasting until the end of 2027.
Contrary to speculation, V.V.S. Laxman, the head of the National Cricket Academy, is unlikely to enter the fray for the head coach position. This may force the BCCI to consider an overseas coach in consultation with senior players. Feelers have been sent to a couple of IPL franchise head coaches who have been part of the T20 league for a considerable time. However, none of them have expressed willingness to apply for the post so far.
Tags: #Cricket, #BCCI, #RahulDravid, #HeadCoach, #T20WorldCup
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