Cricket

India's head coach Rahul Dravid has expressed optimism about the team's chances of winning the T20 World Cup, citing their consistent performance in reaching three ICC finals within the past year. Dravid believes that a combination of intelligent gameplay and good fortune will enable India to secure a long-awaited ICC championship.Throughout the current T20 World Cup, India has demonstrated their superiority, mirroring their performance in the ODI World Cup held in their home country the previous year. However, in that tournament, they stumbled at the final obstacle against Australia.Rohit Sharma and his team are now set to face South Africa in the final at Barbados' Kensington Oval. They are determined to clinch a ICC title, a feat they last achieved during the 2013 Champions Trophy."It is a good thing we have been consistently playing good cricket. We have been in finals in all three formats and credit goes to the players. If we play well and rub of the green goes (our way) we will surely win," Dravid said.Despite the swift journey from Guyana to Barbados following their semifinal victory against England, Dravid expressed confidence in the team's mental readiness for the upcoming contest."In terms of our preparation, we've just got one day in the middle, so it's unlikely we're going to be having practice. It's just about all the guys getting into ensuring that physically, mentally, tactically we are ready for the game."Dravid emphasized his team's readiness for the crucial encounter at the top. "Those are the things that we can control, that we are fresh, that we've looked after all our niggles, if there are any. We've done all our tactical preparation and we're mentally relaxed and excited and looking forward to the game."In 2023, India suffered two devastating losses in ICC finals. They were defeated by Australia in both the World Test Championship (WTC) final and the ODI World Cup final. Dravid believes that the team has learned from these heartbreaking experiences."No, nothing. I thought we were very well-prepared in Ahmedabad (ODI WC). We ticked all the boxes and, on that day, the other team played better. That's part of the sport. The other team that's coming there to play has also obviously reached the final because they're a good team and they're playing very good cricket as well. So, they have as much right to win it as we do, but we hope that we'll play better cricket on the day," he said.Dravid also praised the team's collective effort in preparing for this prestigious event, highlighting their ability to adapt to various situations. He acknowledged the hard work put in by the entire squad leading up to the tournament."I think what's really important is that we've done really well as a group. This whole tournament we have shown the ability to adapt, to recognize what is a good score. We played very differently in New York, then we played in St. Lucia, then we played even in Barbados when I thought that the game was quite slow.""I'm just hoping that whatever we come up against, we will have the ability to recognize it and be able to play accordingly, as we've done in the last three games," said Dravid.

Rahul Dravid, the outgoing head coach of the Indian cricket team, expressed his gratitude for the connections he has forged during his tenure as he prepares for his final match in charge against South Africa in the T20 World Cup finale on Saturday.Dravid, who endured a disappointing exit as India's captain in the 2007 ODI World Cup, is now on the verge of a memorable farewell as coach. He took over the reins from Ravi Shastri after the 2021 T20 World Cup and has been at the helm for nearly three years.In a promotional video released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Dravid reflected on his time as coach, describing it as a transformative experience for both him and his family. He praised the professionalism exhibited by the team throughout his tenure, both in victories and defeats.Despite reaching the finals of both the World Test Championship and the 50-over World Cup last year, India fell short against Australia on both occasions. However, Dravid's legacy will be defined by the connections he has built and the impact he has had on the team's culture.Indian captain Rohit Sharma expressed his admiration for Dravid, calling him a "big role model." Sharma, who has played alongside and under Dravid for India, said he had tried unsuccessfully to convince him to stay on as coach."I've enjoyed every bit of it, working with him," Sharma said. "I tried convincing him to stay, but obviously there are a lot of things that he needs to look after as well.""I've personally enjoyed my time with him. I'm sure the rest of the guys will say the same. It's been great working with him."As Dravid prepares for his final match in charge, he will be remembered for his dedication, his ability to connect with players, and his unwavering belief in the team's potential.

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian cricketer, has expressed his reluctance to speculate about his future as the head coach of the men's national team. Despite being heavily linked to the role, Gambhir maintains that he is content with his current position and is not looking too far ahead.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is currently evaluating potential candidates to replace Rahul Dravid, whose tenure as head coach is set to expire after the T20 World Cup 2024. Gambhir has emerged as a strong contender, with many former cricketers endorsing his credentials.However, Gambhir remains cautious about the possibility of taking over the reins of the Indian team. "I don't see that far ahead," he said. "It's difficult to answer right now. All I can say is that I am happy being here."Gambhir's reluctance to commit to the head coach role stems from his contentment with his current position as team mentor for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Under his guidance, the Knights lifted their third IPL trophy in 2024.Gambhir's coaching philosophy emphasizes the importance of treating all players equally. "In a team sport, it's the team that matters the most," he said. "Individuals do play a role, but ultimately, if everyone is treated equally, you will achieve an unbelievable amount of success."Meanwhile, the Indian team continues to impress in the T20 World Cup, having secured a 47-run victory over Afghanistan in their Super 8 opener. The Rohit Sharma-led side will face Bangladesh on Saturday in Antigua.

Gautam Gambhir Remains Noncommittal on Potential India Head Coach AppointmentFormer India opener Gautam Gambhir has declined to comment on his potential appointment as the next head coach of the national cricket team, stating that he does not "see that far ahead."Gambhir, 42, was speaking at an event organized by the Indian Chambers of Commerce in Kolkata on Friday. Earlier this week, he participated in a virtual interview with the BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC). Many believe he is the frontrunner to take over from current head coach Rahul Dravid, whose tenure is set to conclude after the ongoing T20 World Cup.Despite his recent success as a team mentor, playing a key role in Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) third IPL title win, Gambhir refused to be drawn into speculation about his prospects."I don't see that far ahead. You are grilling me, asking me all tough questions," Gambhir said, as quoted by PTI. "It is difficult to answer right now. All I can say is that I'm happy being here, just finished a brilliant journey (and) let's enjoy that. I'm in a very happy space right now," he added.Gambhir's evasiveness has fueled further speculation about his potential appointment. The CAC, comprising former India captain Madan Lal, former India all-rounder Sulakshana Naik, and former India women's captain Shanta Rangaswamy, is expected to make a decision on the next head coach soon.If appointed, Gambhir would bring a wealth of experience to the role. He played 58 Tests, 147 ODIs, and 37 T20Is for India, scoring over 10,000 international runs. He was also a key member of the 2011 World Cup-winning team.However, Gambhir has limited coaching experience. He served as a mentor for KKR in the 2022 IPL season, but has not held any other coaching positions.

India's head coach Rahul Dravid faced a barrage of questions about his past performances in Barbados during a press conference ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 match against Afghanistan. Dravid, who had a forgettable outing in Barbados as a player in 1997, was visibly irked by the reporter's query."Geez, thanks a lot buddy! I have had some other decent memories here as well," Dravid retorted sarcastically.The reporter persisted, asking if it was an opportunity for Dravid to create new and better memories. Dravid's patience snapped."God man! I am not trying to make new anything man!" he exclaimed.Dravid emphasized that he had moved on from his past performances and was solely focused on his current role as coach."I move on from things very quickly. That's one of my things. I don't look back on things. I try and look at what I am doing now, at the moment. I am not concerned about what happened in 97 or some other year," he said.Dravid acknowledged that his past performances would remain on the scorecard, but he refused to dwell on them."Even if we win this match tomorrow, unfortunately, that is still going to remain 80 on the scorecard, however much I try and will it. No I don't think about any retribution. I move on from things. What's in front of me, good or bad?"Dravid reiterated that he no longer identified with his past as a player."I don't think of myself much as a player anymore. Yeah, just move on. Focus on tomorrow, and try and get a good result tomorrow," he concluded.

India's head coach Rahul Dravid has hinted at the possibility of including wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the team for the Caribbean leg of the T20 World Cup. Dravid acknowledged the impact of wrist spinners in the Caribbean conditions, citing Adam Zampa's success as an example."It might be slightly different here. You might need an extra spinner, and then someone like Kuldeep or Yuzi can come into play," Dravid said ahead of India's Super 8 opener against Afghanistan.Dravid also expressed satisfaction with India's batting approach, noting that the team has become more aggressive in recent times. "We have actually been able to push the needle forward in terms of our batting," he said.However, Dravid cautioned against being overly aggressive in all conditions. "Cricket is a very condition-specific game," he said. "Sometimes we just get carried away with pushing the needle forward in T20 cricket."Dravid expects the wind to be a factor at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, which could favor Afghanistan's fast bowlers, including tournament leading wicket-taker Fazalhaq Farooqi."Afghanistan is a very dangerous team in this format of the game," Dravid said. "They play a lot of T20 cricket, and their cricketers are very prominent members of their IPL teams."Dravid also praised the cricket culture in the Caribbean and expressed his excitement for the business end of the tournament.

Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir is poised to take over as the head coach of the Indian men's cricket team, replacing Rahul Dravid. Gambhir and ex-India opener WV Raman were interviewed for the position on Tuesday via Zoom by the BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC).Gambhir, who played a pivotal role in India's World Cup triumphs in 2007 and 2011, is expected to be formally announced as the new coach towards the end of the ongoing T20 World Cup. His tenure will commence in July 2024 and conclude in December 2027, after the 50-over World Cup.Gambhir's appointment marks a significant shift in the BCCI's approach, as he has no prior coaching experience at the international or domestic level. However, his success as a mentor for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who won the IPL title in 2024, has convinced the decision-makers of his suitability for the role.The CAC, comprising Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjape, and Sulakshana Naik, conducted the interviews with Gambhir and Raman. Sources indicate that the interview with Gambhir was largely a formality, as the BCCI bosses are confident in his ability to lead the team.Gambhir's appointment comes amid speculation that Dravid may join an IPL team as team director. The BCCI is also expected to appoint a new selector from the North Zone to replace Salil Ankola.

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian cricketer, has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Rahul Dravid as the head coach of the Indian men's cricket team. Gambhir has formally applied for the position and attended an interview with the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) on Tuesday.The CAC, comprising former India cricketers Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjape, and Sulakshana Naik, is responsible for shortlisting applicants for the head coach position. The BCCI has not disclosed the number of applications received for the post.Gambhir's application comes after informal discussions with the BCCI during the IPL 2024 season, where he played a key role in Kolkata Knight Riders' third title triumph. He previously served as a mentor for Lucknow Super Giants in the 2022 and 2023 IPL seasons, guiding the team to the playoffs both times.Speaking at an event in Abu Dhabi on June 1, Gambhir expressed his desire to coach India. "There is no bigger honour than coaching your national team," he said. "You are representing 140 crore Indians. And more across the globe as well. And when you represent India, how can it get bigger than that?"Gambhir became the frontrunner for the job after his former India teammate VVS Laxman declined the BCCI's offer to become the head coach. Laxman is currently the director of cricket at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.Dravid, who took over from Ravi Shastri after the T20 World Cup in November 2021, initially signed on for two years until the 2023 ODI World Cup. He later agreed to extend his tenure until the ongoing T20 World Cup.The BCCI has stated that the new head coach will be appointed for a three-and-a-half-year term, from July 2024 to December 2027, and will be responsible for the team in all three formats of the game.

With the tenure of current India head coach Rahul Dravid set to expire after the T20 World Cup, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly identified former batter Gautam Gambhir as the frontrunner to take over the high-profile role.According to sources, Gambhir has emerged as the sole candidate to have applied for the head coach position. The former opening batter is expected to appear for an interview before the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) via Zoom on Tuesday.The BCCI had invited applications for the post in mid-May, with the deadline set for May 27. Gambhir, who is currently the mentor of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), is believed to have given the green light to the board after some of his demands were accepted.The CAC, comprising former cricketers Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjpe, and Sulakshana Naik, will also conduct interviews for the vacant selector's spot from the North Zone. Currently, chief selection committee chief Ajit Agarkar and Salil Ankola are both from the West Zone, with the new selector from the North Zone set to replace the latter.After conducting the interviews, the CAC will make recommendations to the BCCI regarding the head coach and the new selector's post. The tenure of the new coach, which is likely to be Gambhir, will commence in July 2024 and extend to December 31, 2027, coinciding with the next ODI World Cup.Gambhir's appointment as head coach would mark a significant shift in the BCCI's approach to team management. The former cricketer is known for his aggressive and vocal leadership style, which could bring a fresh perspective to the Indian team.However, Gambhir's lack of experience as a head coach at the international level could be a potential concern. He has previously served as the mentor of KKR and the Delhi Capitals, but his ability to handle the pressures of coaching a national team remains to be seen.