"Rahul Dravid can reapply" - BCCI to soon invite applications for new head coach

Jay Shah, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, has revealed that the board will soon release an advertisement for a new head coach and Rahul Dravid can reapply if he wants his tenure extended, Cricbuzz reported on May 10 (Friday).

After Dravid’s two-year contract expired at the end of the 2023 ODI World Cup, the 51-year-old was offered an extension till the upcoming T20 World Cup in June. Shah said the new coach will serve till the ODI World Cup in 2027 and also suggested that the board is unlikely to consider different coaches for different formats.

“Rahul's tenure is only up to June. If he wants to reapply, he is free to do so. We cannot determine whether the new coach will be Indian or foreign. It will be up to the CAC, and we are a global body,” said Shah.

"That decision will also be made by the CAC. There are many all-format players, like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Rishabh Pant, among others. Moreover, there is no precedent for such a situation in India."

Talking about the much-debated Impact Player rule in the Indian Premier League, Shah said: "Impact Player is like a test case. We have implemented it slowly. The biggest advantage of it is that two (additional) Indian players are getting a chance (in each game), which is the most important.

"We will consult with the players, franchises, broadcasters (and take a call). This is not permanent but I am not saying that it will go. (We'll see) if it's making the game more competitive or not. Even then, if a player feels that this is not right, then we will talk to them. But no one has told us anything yet, so it will be decided after the World Cup."

It’s also being speculated that Shah is set to become the International Cricket Council chairman in November but the 35-year-old refused to comment on the matter. “Let there be speculation. Let me be here (in the BCCI). Am I not doing a good job (as BCCI secretary)?” 

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