Rahul Dravid to join Team India as head coach for Sri Lanka tour

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced Rahul Dravid as the head coach of the India B team who will be traveling to Sri Lanka. In the upcoming months, India will be playing two series simultaneously. The main Indian squad will be traveling to England on June 2 for the final of the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship against New Zealand followed by a five-match series against England. 

Since the WTC final is in June and the Test series will commence from August 4, there is a month-long break as nothing is scheduled for July. Thus, the Indian board decided to utilize this time as a different Indian team will be traveling to Sri Lanka for three One Day Internationals and as many T20 Internationals. India’s head coach Ravi Shastri will be traveling to England with the Test squad, hence, Rahul Dravid has been appointed as the coach of the limited-overs team.

A BCCI official confirmed the latest development saying that it will be best if the relatively young squad will be mentored by Dravid as he has worked with most of the players during India ‘A’ tours. “The Team India coaching staff will be in the UK and it is best that the young team is guided by Dravid as he has already worked with almost all of India ‘A’ boys. The comfort the youngsters share with him will be an added advantage,” the BCCI official said as quoted by Times of India. 

Rahul Dravid has vast experience in coaching

The three-match One Day series between India and Sri Lanka will be played on July 13, 16, 19 and the T20Is are likely to be played from July 22-27. Rahul Dravid comes with a vast experience of coaching under his belt. This won’t be the first time that the 48-year-old will be joining the National team’s coaching unit. 

Dravid previously was associated with the team as their batting consultant during the India tour of England in 2014. The veteran helped the likes of Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, and Murli Vijay to master the art of playing in the swing and seam-friendly conditions in England. In addition, the former Indian captain has been mentoring the India A and Under-19 team since 2015.

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