The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will begin the process of selecting the head coach for the Indian National Cricket Team very soon.
Jay Shah, the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has confirmed that Rahul Dravid, India’s current head coach, has the option to extend his tenure if he desires. Dravid, who took on the role in November 2021, was initially granted a short-term extension until the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024 after his initial two-year contract concluded with the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
Speaking in Mumbai, Shah announced that India will be seeking a new head coach as Dravid’s contract is due to end in June, following the conclusion of the T20 World Cup. The BCCI is now accepting applications for the position, with both Indian and foreign coaches being considered. The final decision on the appointment will rest with the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC).
Shah also revealed that the BCCI aims to appoint a long-term coach, potentially until the ODI World Cup in 2027. Despite the trend of having separate coaches for different formats in international cricket, the BCCI prefers to have a single head coach for Team India due to the majority of players participating in all three formats.
Emphasizing that the CAC will have the ultimate say in the selection process, Shah stated that if they opt for a foreign coach, the BCCI will respect their decision without interference. Notably, the CAC comprises former Indian cricketers Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjape, and Sulakshana Naik.
As reported by Sportstar, Jay Shah said during an interaction at the BCCI headquarters: “We will call for applications in the next few days. Rahul Dravid’s tenure is coming to an end in June. If he wants to reapply, he can. We are looking for a long-term coach, for three years.”
“There is no precedent of different coaches for different formats in Indian cricket. Besides, we have a number of all-format players. Ultimately, it will be the CAC’s call. I have to implement what they decide. If the CAC selects a foreign coach, I can’t interfere.”
Before opening up applications for the head coach position, the CAC will first select a national selector. Shah mentioned that interviews for the selector’s position from the North Zone have already occurred, and the CAC will convene within a week to make their ultimate decision.
