Netizens went wild after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) re-appointed Rahul Dravid as the head coach of the national team, keeping next year's T20 World Cup in mind.
“The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announces the extension of contracts for Head Coach Mr. Rahul Dravid and the Support Staff of Team India (Senior Men). The BCCI engaged in productive discussions with Mr. Rahul Dravid after the term of his contract ended following the recently concluded ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 and unanimously agreed to further the tenure,” the BCCI said in a statement.
“The Board acknowledges Mr. Dravid's instrumental role in moulding the Indian Team and commends his exceptional professionalism. The Board also appreciates Mr. VVS Laxman for his exemplary roles as Head of NCA and as the stand-in Head Coach. Similar to their legendary on-field partnerships, Mr. Dravid and Mr. Laxman have worked closely in driving Indian Cricket forward,” the Indian Cricket Board added.
The BCCI top brass, including board president Roger Binny and secretary Jay Shah, confirmed the decision.
“Mr. Rahul Dravid's vision, professionalism, and unyielding efforts have been important pillars in Team India's success. As Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team, you are always under immense scrutiny and I extend appreciation to him not only for embracing the challenges but for thriving in them. The performances of the Indian Team are a testament to his strategic guidance. I am delighted that he accepted the offer to remain the Head Coach, and it speaks of the mutual respect and shared vision between him and the BCCI. I have no doubt that under him, the team will continue its march to the pinnacle of success and set new benchmarks along the way,” Roger Binny noted.
“I had mentioned that there is no better person than Rahul Dravid to take over the role of Head Coach at the time of his appointment, and Mr. Dravid has proven himself again with his unparalleled commitment to excellence. Team India is now a formidable unit across formats, and our top ranking in all three formats directly reflects his vision, guidance, and the roadmap he charted for the team. Having won 10 consecutive games before the final, our World Cup campaign was nothing short of extraordinary, and the Head Coach deserves appreciation for setting up the right platform for the team to flourish. The Head Coach has our full backing, and we will provide him with all the support needed for sustained success at the international level,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah pointed out.
Rahul Dravid reacted to the development by thanking the BCCI for giving him a second opportunity to coach the Indian cricket team.
“The last two years with Team India have been thoroughly memorable. Together, we have witnessed the highs and lows, and throughout this journey, the support and camaraderie within the group have been phenomenal. I am genuinely proud of the culture we have set in the dressing room. It's a culture that stands resilient, whether in moments of triumph or adversity. The skills and talent that our team possesses are phenomenal, and what we've stressed is following the right process and sticking to our preparations, which has had a direct impact on the overall result,” Rahul Dravid underlined.
“I thank the BCCI and the Office Bearers for placing their trust in me, endorsing my vision, and providing support during this period. The demands of this role necessitate considerable time away from home, and I deeply appreciate my family's sacrifices and support. Their instrumental role behind the scenes has been invaluable. As we embrace new challenges post the World Cup, we remain committed to the pursuit of excellence,” he elaborated.
Rahul Dravid's first coaching stint with Team India ended after the 2023 Cricket World Cup final, which Rohit Sharma and his men lost to the Pat Cummins-led Australian side in Ahmedabad almost two weeks ago.
Though Rahul Dravid failed to end India's World Cup drought, many former cricketers lauded his work with Rohit Sharma and Co. and demanded his reinstatement as head coach.
2011 World Cup winner Gautam Gambhir acknowledged that Rahul Dravid's presence in the dressing room had made the current Team India players far more confident and aggressive on the field.
Besides, he opined that India needed continuity in its coaching set-up, especially when the T20 World Cup was around the corner.
The West Indies and the United States (US) will host the next T20 World Cup in June 2024.
“Dravid's contract as head coach should be automatically renewed. The kind of cricket that India played throughout the World Cup, if you are going to judge a coach by just one match then it is a wrong precedent,” Gautam Gambhir had said in a conversation with Sportskeeda days ahead of Rahul Dravid's return as India head coach.