Rahul Dravid frontrunner to replace Ravi Shastri as India's head coach

In a sensational turnaround of events, it has been understood that Rahul Dravid is the frontrunner to replace Ravi Shastri as team India’s head coach. Shastri’s tenure at the helm ends after the T20 World Cup that is set to commence on October 17 in the UAE and Oman. He will become ineligible to reapply for the position owing to age restriction rules currently in place.

Several reports have already surfaced before about BCCI asking Dravid to take over the head coach role while a couple of days before it was also told that the latter ‘politely’ refused. However, the recent reports suggest the legendary cricketer might take charge of the backroom staff for the home series against New Zealand to commence from November 17.

According to ESPNCricinfo, Rahul Dravid is ‘by distance’ the favourite to become India’s head coach. “It is understood that BCCI officials have been involved in discussions with Dravid for a few months now and there has been speculation about him succeeding Shastri ever since he stepped into the job in an interim capacity when India were forced to send a second-string team to Sri Lanka for a limited-overs series last July, when many of the first-choice players were in England for the Test series,” the report read.

Rahul Dravid is currently the director of NCA

Rahul Dravid, ever since retiring as the cricketer, has been contributing to Indian Cricket in every possible way. He was first the coach of India Under-19 team and then became the head coach at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. Soon he was elevated to the Director post and has been at the helm since 2019.

Despite the reports of Dravid leading the head coach race, BCCI is likely to advertise for the position formally. However, the Indian board might not look beyond Rahul Dravid if he applies. The tenures of bowling coach Bharat Arun and fielding coach R Sridhar are also ending and the BCCI will advertise for those positions too. Paras Mhambrey, Dravid’s deputy at the NCA, is the favourite to take over as the bowling coach.