The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is on the hunt for a new head coach for the India national cricket team, as Rahul Dravid’s tenure as the head coach of the men’s team is set to end with the conclusion of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
However, if Dravid wants to stay as India’s head coach, he would have to reapply for the job. But the IANS report suggested Dravid is not in the mood to reapply for the high-profile role, and even he is ready to step down, regardless of the team’s success in the T20 World Cup 2024, as he wants to spend time with his family.
Amidst discussions about potential successors, the BCCI doesn’t want to split the 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 is not interested in India’s head coach role
Earlier, there were speculations that NCA head VVS Laxman was the frontrunner to replace Dravid as head coach, having filled his shoes on an interim basis. But now an IANS report suggests that Laxman has no intention to apply for Team India’s head coach role as he wants to continue his work with the India ‘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 Team India’s head coach.
Other prominent figures in contention for India’s head coach role are Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming, LSG mentor Gautam Gambhir, and Gujarat Titans (GT) head coach Ashish Nehra, who all 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 hot job, and he has reportedly expressed interest in coaching the Indian cricket team. According to the reports, Ponting held discussions with BCCI officials regarding the coaching position, but his other stints might not go his way.
Ricky Ponting emerges as top contender to replace Rahul Dravid as India’s head coach
However, the extensive workload over the past ten months with the Indian team will play a crucial role in the former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting’s decision. Apart from this, Ponting’s recent appointment as head coach of the Washington Freedom in Major League Cricket (MLC) will also play a role in the matter.
Following the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2024, Team India is scheduled to travel to Zimbabwe for a five-match T20I series starting on July 15, while Ponting will be in the USA for the upcoming MLC 2024, starting on July 16, so it would be tough for the BCC and DC coaches to come on the same page.
It is also being said that the BCCI is 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 Team India. The BCCI has also shown interest in Fleming, but it is clear that Dravid and Laxman don’t want to take up the job.