Team India’s backroom staff is set to undergo a complete overhaul after the T20 World Cup 2021 as the contracts of the present coaches end next month. Barring batting coach Vikram Rathour, the rest of the coaches are set to end their association with the team.
While head coach Ravi Shastri is a noted commentator and might make his comeback to the commentary box, Bharat Arun and R Sridhar have been part of the backroom staff of IPL franchises and will surely be back in the T20 league after 4 years.
Shastri looks all but set to be replaced by Rahul Dravid, who is presently the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Multiple reports have confirmed that Dravid, who has had two part-time stints with the national team so far, will take over the job on a full-time basis for 2 years, starting November.
With Dravid becoming the head coach, the BCCI will need a new head for the National Cricket Academy. It’s a coveted job and the board will need someone who can fill Dravid’s shoes.
As per Sports Tak, the BCCI approached Test great VVS Laxman for the top job but he refused. The reasons for him saying no aren’t known. Laxman, who played 134 Tests and 86 ODIs, is also a veteran coach and has been the mentor of IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad since 2013. He is also the batting consultant of the Bengal Cricket team. Off the field, he is a full-time commentator.
A coach working for BCCI cannot take up any other position and isn’t allowed to do commentary as well. With Laxman reportedly refusing the job, the BCCI’s search is on and it will be a tough task for the board to pick a coach of Dravid’s stature.
As far as other coaching positions go, the BCCI advertised for various roles on Sunday (October 17) and Dravid will have to apply before the deadline and will be appointed after being interviewed by the Cricket Advisory Committee.