Rahul David’s future as India U-19 coach rests in the hands of his ex-teammates

Rahul Dravid has pulled off some amazing results during his term as the India Under-19 coach and his two-year contract came to an end on 31 March this year. Now, just the way it’s happening in Anil Kumble’s case, his contract extension or cancellation will be decided by his former companions, VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly.

Laxman, Tendulkar and Ganguly are currently a part of the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) constituted by the BCCI in 2015 and they were the one’s who roped in Dravid and Kumble as the head coaches of India junior and senior sides respectively. The trio met Indian skipper Virat Kohli and Kumble on Friday to discuss the latter’s continuation.

One of BCCI’s top board officials said to Times of India that Kumble’s fate will be decided depending on what happens in that meeting. If they feel that Kumble cannot extend his contract due to some reasons, only then they will look for a new coach.

The official also stated that if the players and Kumble can sort out these minor altercations, BCCI will not interview anyone for the head coach responsibility till the 2019 ICC World Cup. It was earlier reported that Virat and co are unhappy with Kumble and are opting for someone else to take up the coaching duties.

Dravid skips the junior national selection committee meeting

Rahul Dravid skipped the junior national selection committee meeting, which was conducted to select the Indian side which will travel to England midway through July. The Under-19 Indian side will lock horns with Under-19 England in 5 One-Day games and 2 four-day matches.

The main reason why Dravid missed this meeting is apparently the conflict of interest dispute which was highlighted by cricket historian Ramachandra Guha, who was upset with Dravid’s dual role as the mentor of Delhi Daredevils and coach of the India junior sides. Guha was appointed by the Supreme Court to BCCI’s Committee of Administrators in January 2017 and he quit his job earlier this month.

The CoA has now ensured they will be providing 12-month contracts to coaches, unlike the 10-month contracts which were given previously. When this gets materialised, Dravid will have to choose between anyone of his current roles and bid adieu to the other.

His experience and credentials will definitely be taken into consideration and is highly likely to get an extension to his contract. With the next Under-19 World Cup less than 12 months away, it won’t be a laudable decision to change something that’s going on so well.

Written by Anuraag Peesara