The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking for a new head coach for the Indian national cricket team as Rahul Dravid’s tenure as head coach of the men’s team will end with the conclusion of the ongoing ICC . T20 World Cup 2024.
However, if Dravid wants to remain as India’s head coach, he would have to reapply for the job. But the IANS report suggested that Dravid is in no mood to run again for the high-profile job, and even he is ready to quit, regardless of the team’s success in the 2024 T20 World Cup, as he wants to spend time with his family. .
Amid discussions over possible successors, the BCCI does not want to split coaching duties, unlike other cricketing nations like South Africa, Pakistan and England, which have separate coaches for red-ball and white-ball cricket.
VVS Laxman not interested in India head coach job
Earlier, there was speculation that NCA chief VVS Laxman was the favorite to replace Dravid as head coach, having taken his place on an interim basis. But now an IANS report suggests that Laxman has no intention of applying for the Indian team’s head coach position as he wants to continue his work with the Indian ‘A’ team.
Meanwhile, the BCCI is considering several notable candidates, including former Australian cricketer and current Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) head coach Justin Langer, to replace Dravid as head coach of Team India.
Other prominent figures vying for India’s head coach job include Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming, LSG mentor Gautam Gambhir and Gujarat Titans (GT) head coach Ashish Nehra, who have extensive coaching experience and know the players.
Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals (DC) head coach Ricky Ponting has also emerged as a potential candidate for the job and has reportedly expressed interest in coaching the Indian cricket team. Ponting reportedly held talks with BCCI officials about the coaching position, but his other seasons may not go the way he wanted.
Ricky Ponting emerges as the leading candidate to replace Rahul Dravid as India head coach
However, the intense workload of the last ten months with the Indian team will play a crucial role in former Australian captain Ricky Ponting’s decision. Apart from this, Ponting’s recent appointment as head coach of Washington Freedom in Major League Cricket (MLC) will also play a role in the matter.
Following the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2024, the Indian team is scheduled to travel to Zimbabwe for a five-match T20I series starting July 15, while Ponting will be in the US for the upcoming MLC 2024, starting July 16, so it would be difficult for BCC and DC coaches to be on the same page.
The BCCI is also said to be exploring options within the IPL coaching fraternity, engaging with coaches and mentors from various franchises. Gambhir and Nehra have also reportedly expressed interest in coaching the Indian team. The BCCI has also shown interest in Fleming, but it is clear that Dravid and Laxman do not want to take the job.