NEWS
Follow UsHead coach Ravi Shastri, bowling coach Bharat Arun, batting coach Vikram Rathour and fielding coach R Sridhar are all set to part ways with the Indian team after the 2021 T20 World Cup, The Indian Express reported on Wednesday (August 11). The showpiece event will be held in the UAE and Oman in October-November.
According to the report, Shastri has already informed some of the BCCI members that he will leave the post once his contract expires after the completion of the T20 World Cup. Meanwhile, Arun, Rathour and Sridhar are already in talks with some of the IPL franchises.
Former India all-rounder Shastri first joined the team in 2014 as director and stayed till the 2016 T20 World Cup. Former Indian legspinner Anil Kumble was then appointed as the head coach but had to resign after almost 12 months. India lost to Pakistan in the 2017 Champions Trophy final and that's when Shastri was made the full-time coach.
India haven't won a single ICC event under him but did manage to win two Test series in Australia. India have been almost untouchable at home, and also put up a commendable fight in South Africa and England.
Meanwhile, the other members too have played their part. Thanks to Arun, India now have one of the most formidable bowling attacks in world cricket. They have also been a top fielding unit, with the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya, Manish Pandey, and a few others being considered as the best in the business.
According to protocol, the BCCI will invite applications for the coaching positions after the T20 World Cup. The report also suggests that some officials want Rahul Dravid to take over. Coincidentally, the BCCI recently invited job applications for Head of Cricket at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, a role currently performed by former India captain Dravid.
Dravid, who has played a significant role in creating India's rich bench strength, was appointed Head of Cricket in July 2019 after he worked extensively with the junior players as India U-19 and 'A' coach. His two year-contract has ended and as per protocol, BCCI has already invited applications. If needed, Dravid could also reapply.
The current age limit set for the head coach is 60 years, like the NCA head role, and Shastri turned 59 in May. Dravid might come into the picture if India don't do well in the T20 World Cup. He recently went to Sri Lanka as head coach of India's limited overs squad with the Test side in England at the same time. After the conclusion of the six games in Sri Lanka, he was asked if wanted to be India head coach on a long-term basis but he was non-committal on the high-profile subject.
"I have enjoyed the experience of working with these guys, it has been great. I have not given any other thoughts to anything else. There are a lot of challenges in doing full-time roles, so I really don’t know," said Dravid.