Former India captain looks set to take over the job from the home series in November against New Zealand, stated a report in ESPNcricinfo.
Speculations have been rife for a while now that Dravid, currently the head of the NCA in Bangalore, is the frontrunner to replace Ravi Shastri once his longstanding successful run finishes with the end of the forthcoming T20 World Cup in the Middle East.
Shastri can’t be reinstated to his post again as he will be aged 60 next year. That would make him ineligible to hold a post as per the age-restriction rules in place within the BCCI regime since the adaptation of the SC enforced Lodha recommendations.
“Dravid has always been the BCCI’s favoured candidate to take over the job from Shastri, who is ineligible to reapply for the position when his term expires, owing to age-restriction norms currently in force.”
“The question was always about Dravid’s inclination and, according to BCCI sources, he has been persuaded to take the job. There will still be a formal process of inviting applications, but if Dravid chooses to apply, the BCCI is unlikely to look beyond him.”
ESPNcricinfo reported.
The top brass of the BCCI is understood to have been in discussions with Dravid for a long time now regarding the head coach’s role with the Indian team. In July, Dravid had agreed to travel as interim head of the backroom staff with an alternate Indian white-ball squad that played in Sri Lanka while the prominent Test match stars competed in England.
But the batting legend has always been hesitant to commit to a full-time role, stating his preference to work behind the scene without excessive scrutiny, which his current role allows him to. Dravid has been the head of the NCA, playing a wholesome role in the development of Indian cricket, for a couple of years now. Before that, he was head coach of the India ‘A’ & U-19 sides from 2015.
A change in his stance will be surprising, but if Dravid does show interest and becomes India’s next head coach, nobody can doubt his cricketing credentials. One of the finest batters that India have produced, the 48-year-old scored nearly 25,000 international runs in his illustrious 16-year career at the top. Post his retirement in March 2012, Dravid soon entered the coaching arena and has been pivotal to the rapid growth of many young stars within the Indian circuit.
Apart from Shastri, the BCCI has to fill in posts of the bowling, batting and fielding coaches as the stints of Bharat Arun, Vikram Rathour and R Sridhar are also coming to an end. Although they haven’t yet formally advertised for the head coach’s job, the board is expected to ask for applications and hope to identify the best individuals to replace the above-mentioned trio.
ESPNcricinfo reported that Mumbai stalwart Paras Mhambrey, who had travelled in the support staff to Sri Lanka along with Dravid and has been working with the legend at the NCA and in India ‘A’ & U-19 set-ups, could be the one to replace Arun in bowling coach’s capacity.
Dravid, if he does get on board as full-time head coach, is expected to sign a contract lasting till the end of the 2023 ODI World Cup at home.
