Diana Edulji, a CoA member, rubbishes reports of Rahul Dravid replacing Anil Kumble as Team India’s coach

The Supreme Court appointed Committee of Administrators has quashed reports of Rahul Dravid replacing Anil Kumble as the coach for the national team post-Australia series, which currently is tied at one a piece.

According to the CoA member, Diana Edulji there was no such development of Rahul Dravid replacing Anil Kumble as the coach.

The New Indian Express reported saying that the Supreme Court appointed CoA had approached Anil Kumble with the offer of becoming the team director, a post which was held by Ravi Shastri until the end of last year.

The report also suggested that CoA was keen on making wholesale changes in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Kumble was given time up till the 14th of April to approve it.

The report further said that the CoA were planning to make the BCCI’s structure to the proximate of the England and Wales Cricket Board(ECB) and Kumble was asked to look after the senior team, India A team, junior team and women’s cricket.

In that case, Rahul Dravid was favourite to take over the reins from his former team-mate Kumble of handling the senior team which is currently captained by Virat Kohli.

“We need to move ahead with the times, and that is why these structural changes are looked at. If it happens, Indian cricket will benefit, as one person will handle all the teams and there will be better coordination between all concerned. The plan is already in place, and there is a strong possibility that when new contracts are given out, these changes will be made,” New Indian Express quoted a BCCI source.

“It is too early to say whether Kumble will take up the role or not. Being the coach and team director (with new responsibility) is no easy thing as it needs a lot of dedicated time. The amount of cricket we play might burn him out. If he doesn’t, we need the back-up as we can’t let the team getting affected, particularly with the Champions Trophy coming up,” the source further said, according to the newspaper report.

What will happen to the Advisory Committee?

The report also said that the BCCI was not interested in continuing with the cricket advisory committee. If Kumble takes up the director’s role, one of the advisory committees is likely to be entrusted with the responsibility of handling cricket operations of all BCCI teams, which is currently managed by MV Sridhar. However, it was clear whether Sridhar would continue with his current job.

The cricket advisory committee consisting Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly played a key role in the appointment of Anil Kumble as coach of Team India in June last year and would have dissolved if the reports were accurate.