In a decisive announcement on Wednesday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the extension of contracts for Rahul Dravid, the head coach, along with his coaching team, which includes Vikram Rathour (batting coach), Paras Mhmabrey (bowling coach), and T Dilip (fielding coach). The decision comes on the heels of India’s strong performance in the ODI World Cup, where they reached the final but narrowly missed the title to Australia.
Record-breaking Streak and Contract Renewal
The Indian team, under the leadership of Rahul Dravid, displayed an impressive streak of 10 consecutive victories at the World Cup, a historic achievement in Indian cricket. While narrowly falling short in the final, the team’s remarkable performance prompted the BCCI to extend the coaching staff’s contracts. The release from BCCI stated, “The BCCI engaged in productive discussions with 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.”
Rahul Dravid Successful Tenure
Rahul Dravid took over as India’s head coach after the T20 World Cup in 2021. During his tenure, the team defended the Border-Gavaskar trophy and secured victories against strong opponents like New Zealand, South Africa, and Sri Lanka at home. While the T20 World Cup in 2022 saw a semi-final exit, the team performed admirably in the World Test Championship and the recent ODI World Cup. Dravid’s leadership also led India to victory in the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka in 2023.
Future Plans and Well-wishes
While the BCCI release did not specify the duration of the extended contracts, speculation suggests that Dravid and his coaching team are likely to continue until the T20 World Cup next year in the West Indies and the USA. Dravid expressed his commitment to excellence, stating, “The last two years with Team India have been thoroughly memorable. As we embrace new challenges post the World Cup, we remain committed to the pursuit of excellence.”
Additional Appointments and Praises
VVS Laxman retains his position as the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and serves as the interim coach for the upcoming T20I series against Australia. BCCI President Roger Binny and Secretary Jay Shah praised Dravid’s contributions, emphasizing his vision and professionalism as crucial elements in Team India’s success.
“Rahul Dravid’s vision, professionalism, and unyielding efforts have been important pillars in Team India’s success,” remarked Binny. “Under him, the team will continue its march to the pinnacle of success and set new benchmarks along the way.”
“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,” added Jay Shah. “The Head Coach has our full backing, and we will provide him with all the support needed for sustained success at the international level.”
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