Indian cricket’s head coach, Rahul Dravid, has faced criticism for his limited semi-final style and the team’s trophy drought in ICC tournaments. Dravid’s future with the Indian team could be in jeopardy if India does not advance to the title clash before the eagerly anticipated ODI World Cup. The BCCI may start looking for a new coach, leaving speculation about whether Dravid would extend his contract.
India could adopt a model similar to England in the period following the World Cup, where separate coaches supervise limited-overs and Test formats. Dravid may continue as the coach for the red-ball style if he indicates an interest. Ashish Nehra, a successful IPL coach, is currently uninterested due to his contractual obligation with the Gujarat Titans.
Future of Rahul Dravid with Team India following the 2023 ICC World Cup
There will be pressure on Rahul Dravid to give India its first ICC trophy since 2013 at the home ICC World Cup in October-November.
Rahul Dravid’s era as the team’s head coach
For Indian cricket, Rahul Dravid’s time as the team’s head coach proved to be a mixed bag of positive and negative aspects. Team India began a new era under the legendary former captain of India with Rohit Sharma as the skipper in all formats, and while Indian supremacy at home continued, the team’s trophy drought in ICC tournaments experienced no end.
Additionally, Dravid and Rohit came under intense scrutiny due to the team’s experiments with playing XIs, partly motivated by the numerous injuries to first-choice players.
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Dravid’s future with the Indian team could be in trouble
A limited semi-final style may fall short of standards, and Dravid’s future with the Indian team could be in jeopardy if India does not advance to the title clash before the eagerly anticipated ODI World Cup, which remains held at home in October and November.
In such a case, the BCCI might start looking for a new coach, leaving everyone wondering whether “The Wall” would extend his contract in whole or part should Board Chief Jay Shah make a new offer.
India can adopt the England’s approach
India can adopt a model similar to England in the period following the World Cup, where separate coaches supervise the limited-overs and Test formats. Dravid took time off from his coaching duties to rest and recover from his demanding, high-pressure job that frequently requires constant travel.
According to additional reports, given the proximity of the England (home series) and South Africa (away series) tours to the World Cup, Dravid might carry on as the coach for the red-ball format if he indicates an interest in doing so.
Other suitable candidates
Although candidates like successful IPL coach Ashish Nehra might be suitable picks, sources close to the former left-arm seamer have said he is currently “not interested” because of his contractual obligation with the Gujarat Titans, which lasts until the end of the 2025 season.
Former BCCI office-holders remark
“If India wins the World Cup, Dravid might not want his contract renewed because he wants to end it on a high note. However, in my opinion, the BCCI should seriously consider hiring separate coaches for various formats after the World Cup. They ought to ask Rahul to stay on as the red ball coach,” a former BCCI office-holder told PTI under the condition of anonymity.
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