Ravi Shastri - Vikram Rathour

Picture Credit: Twitter/@BCCI

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is accepting applications for various positions in the senior men's team coaching staff for roles such as head coach, batting, bowling fielding coaches, and a head for sports science and medicine at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Notably, the contract of the coaching staff of the Indian men's team is set to come to an end after the T20 World Cup in Oman and UAE and the board is looking to appoint the best for the top position.

While current head coach Ravi Shastri has also hinted that this would be his last assignment as the head coach, media reports citing BCCI officials have already confirmed that Rahul Dravid will be the new head coach of the Indian team. There is little clarity on the remaining roles as yet.

Applications for the position of head coach to be submitted by October 26

The BCCI has to however comply with the set of formal procedures in place before they can make the announcement of the next head coach.

"Applications for the position of head coach (Team India- Senior Men) should be submitted by 5 PM on October 26, applications for the position of batting coach (Team India- Senior Men) should be submitted by 5 PM on November 03, 2021, and applications for the position of bowling coach (Team India- Senior Men) should be submitted by 5 PM on November 03, 2021," a report by the Times of India said.

Vikram Rathour eyeing head coach position: Reports

While most of the coaching staff under Shastri is not interested in remaining with the team, batting coach Vikram Rathour is reportedly eyeing a head coach position. In any case, Rathour wants to stay with the Men in Blue after he has established a good rapport with the players since joining in 2019. He has worked on India's middle-order crisis and given a few players the license to play fearless cricket.

Meanwhile, Shastri will reportedly take a more selective approach. This suggests that he would want to either work with an IPL franchise to avoid year-long travel or be a part of the broadcasting team if he wants.

"He’ll be selective. He’ll be open to working with an IPL franchise. Year-round travel is something he would like to avoid now," sources close to him were quoted.

"He’ll be welcomed with a red carpet (in the commentary box). Tell me a voice that is more identifiable than his," the sources added.