NEW DELHI, Nov 29: The former India captain Rahul Dravid will continue to be national senior cricket team’s head coach. Dravid’s two-year contract as head coach had ended with the World Cup earlier this month but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday extended the contract to maintain the continuity, but the tenure of the extension is still to be decided.
Dravid has accepted the offer of extension, a BCCI spokesman said. Along with the 50-year-old Dravid, his support staff comprising batting coach Vikram Rathour, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey and fielding coach T. Dilip have also got an extension. Similarly, VVS Laxman will continue to head the National Cricket Academy, Bengaluru.
It is expected that his stint would be at least till the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA in June-July next year. Some media reports said Dravid had been offered an extension and asked to helm the affairs in South Africa as they work on the modalities.
While VVS Laxman, the NCA head, who has often filled in for Dravid when the latter was taking short breaks, is believed to have informed the brass that he is more comfortable working with pathways teams such as India A and India U-19, apart from being actively involved in cricketing matters with regards to the new NCA set-up in Bengaluru.
“The Board also appreciates VVS Laxman for his exemplary roles as Head of NCA and as the stand-in Head Coach. Similar to their legendary on-field partnerships, Dravid and Laxman have worked closely in driving Indian Cricket forward,” a BCCI said making it clear that both for the time being will continue in their respective roles.
The decision to maintain the continuity following the senior side’s stupendous performance in the ODI World Cup where it won 10 games in a row before losing the final. “The Board of Control for Cricket in India announces the extension of contracts for head coach Rahul Dravid and the support staff of Team India (senior men),” the sport’s apex body said in a statement.
“The BCCI engaged in productive discussions with Dravid after the term of his contract ended following the recently-concluded World Cup and unanimously agreed to further the tenure,” it added. BCCI secretary Jay Shah said Dravid would have the “full backing” of the board, moving forward in his endeavour to win the ICC Trophy, which is missing from the cabinet for the last decade.
“Having won 10 consecutive games before the final, our World Cup campaign was nothing short of extraordinary, and the head coach (Dravid) deserves appreciation for setting up the right platform for the team to flourish. “The head coach has our full backing, and we will provide him with all the support needed for sustained success at the international level,” the BCCI secretary said in a statement.
“The last two years with Team India have been thoroughly memorable. Together, we have witnessed the highs and lows, and throughout this journey, the support and camaraderie within the group have been phenomenal,” Dravid said.
Dravid had replaced Ravi Shastri after the T20 World Cup in 2021, getting appointed for a two-year term which ended with the ODI World Cup. Under Dravid, India also finished as runners-up in the last World Test Championship, losing to Australia in the final.
BCCI president Roger Binny, who has been a bridge between the board and the head coach, also welcomed the decision. “The performances of the Indian Team are a testament to his strategic guidance. I am delighted that he accepted the offer to remain the head coach, and it speaks of the mutual respect and shared vision between him and the BCCI.”
Dravid said he would remain committed to the pursuit of excellence in this post-World Cup phase. “The demands of this role necessitate considerable time away from home, and I deeply appreciate my family’s sacrifices and support. Their instrumental role behind the scenes has been invaluable. As we embrace new challenges post the World Cup, we remain committed to the pursuit of excellence,” he said.
(Manas Dasgupta)