BCCI offers to extend Rahul Dravid's contract as head coach

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• Nov 29, 2023 | Dhupali Das

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has extended an offer to Rahul Dravid to continue as the...

Digital Desk: In a move aimed at maintaining stability and continuity within the Indian cricket setup, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has extended an offer to Rahul Dravid to continue as the head coach of the national team. Reportedly, Dravid was approached by the BCCI last week, proposing an open-ended extension to his tenure.

Despite the offer on the table, Dravid's acceptance is yet to be confirmed. The BCCI's motivation to retain Dravid stems from a desire to preserve the structural foundation he has diligently crafted over the past two years. A new head coach might risk disrupting the established framework, prompting the board's insistence on Dravid's continuation.

If Dravid agree to the extension, his inaugural assignment in this renewed role would be India's upcoming tour of South Africa. The tour kicks off with a series of white-ball matches - three T20Is and ODIs each - followed by two Test matches scheduled in Centurion starting from December 26 and Cape Town from January 3. Subsequently, India is set to engage in a five-match Test series against England at home, leading up to the T20 World Cup in June.

Dravid took over as head coach following Ravi Shastri's tenure after the T20 World Cup in 2021. Initially appointed for a two-year term that culminated with India's recent runners-up finish at the ODI World Cup, Dravid led the team to its joint-best performance at ICC events. India's journey under his coaching saw them reach the finals of both the ODI World Cup and the World Test Championship in 2023, falling short on both occasions.

If Dravid continues, it's anticipated that he will retain his existing team of assistant coaches - Vikram Rathour as batting coach, Paras Mhambrey as bowling coach, and T Dilip as the fielding coach - with whom he has collaborated since 2021.

In the aftermath of the World Cup final defeat, Dravid expressed pride in India's top-ranking status across formats but acknowledged the absence of a global trophy as a disappointment. When questioned about his future with the team, Dravid emphasized his complete focus on the World Cup campaign and deferred contemplation about his coaching tenure until a later time.

The cricketing community awaits Dravid's decision, as the extension holds implications not only for the Indian team's coaching staff but also for the continuation of the strategic trajectory set forth under his stewardship.