Dravid confirms the T20 WC to be his last tournament as India coach

Rahul Dravid, the current head coach of the Indian cricket team, has all but confirmed that the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be his last assignment with the national team. The 51-year-old has stated that he won’t re-apply for the job. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) posted an advertisement for the job earlier. 

In a media interaction ahead of India’s tournament openers against Ireland on Wednesday (June 5), Dravid said, “Considering the kind of schedules and where I find myself at this stage in my life, I don't think I'll be able to re-apply. So yeah, obviously it'll be my last one.”

On being asked if he sees the World Cup as a special opportunity, Dravid’s answer was thoroughly professional. “It's (the significance of this World Cup) no different for me. I love doing the job. I've really enjoyed coaching India and think it's a truly special job to do. I enjoyed working with this team and it's a great bunch of boys to work with.

"To be very honest, I don't see this as anything particularly different or significant. It's from the first day I took the job. I always felt that every game was important and every game mattered. And that will not change," he added to his statement. 

Dravid took this coaching role after India crashed out of the group stage in the 2021 edition of the World Cup. He replaced Ravi Shastri and this is his third World Cup as India’s coach. In the 2022 T20 World Cup, India went to the semi-final where they lost by 10 wickets. In the 50-over World Cup last year, India were unbeaten through the competition until a six-wicket defeat in the final. 

That was supposed to be Dravid’s last tournament coaching India. However, the BCCI extended his contract until the end of this T20 World Cup. 

While Dravid’s departure after this tournament was widely speculated, Gautam Gambhir, who played a significant part of his international career under Dravid’s captaincy, is expected to replace him. 

At a recent event in Abu Dhabi, Gambhir said it would be an honor to coach the Indian side. "I would love to coach the Indian team. There is no bigger honour. You are representing 140 crore Indians and more across the globe as well, and when you represent India, how can it get bigger than that? It is not me that will help India win the World Cup, it is 140 crore Indians who will help India win the World Cup," Gambhir said. 

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