Rahul Dravid's new tenure to be finalised soon: Jay Shah

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, Jay Shah has cleared the air over Rahul Dravid’s extended tenure as the national team’s head coach. Earlier the BCCI had announced through a statement that the contract of the head coach Dravid has been extended along with the support staff. However, the statement did not mention the duration of this extended stint. 

"We did not have time. We met with them and mutually agreed that he can continue. Once they return from South Africa, we will sit with him and decide on the tenure," Shah clarified, stating the lack of communication earlier due to no time to discuss the terms. 

Dravid coached the Indian team from November 2021 onwards and oversaw the team to the semifinal of the 2022 T20 World Cup, World Test Championship final in 2023 and the final of the recently concluded ODI World Cup. His contract was supposed to end with the 50-over World Cup. In his absence, VVS Laxman coached the side during the five-match T20I series against Australia. 

Dravid has now joined the team again in the coaching role for the tour of South Africa and the terms of the extension will be announced post the tour, which will conclude on January 7. 

Alongside Dravid, there have also been question marks around Rohit Sharma’s role in India’s T20 setup. Various media reports have been floating around regarding the same. Shah, however, did not give any clarification on Rohit’s future in India’s T20 plans. 

“What is the need to have clarity right now? The T20 World Cup is starting in June, we have the IPL before that and the series against Afghanistan,” Shah answered the question on Rohit. 

Shah also spoke on Hardik Pandya’s return to India’s colours. Pandya suffered an ankle injury during India’s World Cup fixture against Bangladesh. He missed the rest of the World Cup followed by the five T20Is versus Australia and is now rested from the tour of South Africa as well. 

Shah reckons Pandya is on the progression road to be fit for the home series against Afghanistan. "He is being monitored on a day-to-day basis. He's at the NCA. He's working hard. We will let you know in due course. He can be fit even before the Afghanistan series," Shah revealed. 

Shah also shed light on Mohammed Shami’s injury status. The right-arm pacer is named in India’s Test squad for the two-match series in South Africa but has his participation subjected to fitness. "Shami should be ready for the South Africa series. He is not at the NCA yet but will go there soon. We are confident he will recover in time," Shah, who seemed confident of Shami’s return, said. 

In addition, the BCCI official spoke about the work in progress regarding cricket academies in the Northeast and Jammu & Kashmir.

"Midway through August, we'll see academies opening up in the Northeast and the new NCA in Bengaluru. And the work on Jammu & Kashmir academy has started," he said.