Rahul Dravid Picture Credit: Getty Images
National Cricket Academy head coach Rahul Dravid is likely to be the interim coach for India's upcoming home series against New Zealand. It has been learnt that the BCCI understands that their search for a new coach can take longer than expected. As a result, BCCI wants Dravid to coach Team India for New Zealand series while the board looks for a permanent head coach.
Rahul Dravid also coached the young Indian team in the Sri Lanka series in July while the main team were concurrently playing in England. According to a report in 'The Indian Express', BCCI had approached Rahul Dravid to become the full-time coach of Team India but Dravid declined the offer as he did want to travel too much. However, Dravid is very likely to become India's interim coach for New Zealand series.
A BCCI official explained while speaking to The Indian Express, “We wanted the candidate whom we feel is best suited for the job to agree first (to apply for the job). We don’t want a situation where we get applications but no one is seen as ideal. It will be embarrassing for the board and for the candidates too. So it’s better to find a suitable candidate first, till then Dravid can be interim coach.”
The Indian board initially considered the possibility of requesting Shastri to continue his tenure as the head coach till the New Zealand series but changed their mind later. The home series against New Zealand starts just after the T20 World Cup. It comprises of 3 T20Is and 2 Tests. The T20I series will start on November 17 and end on 21 November. Meanwhile, the first Test starts on 25 November.