India’s Head Coach Rahul Dravid with BCCI Secretary Jay Shah during celebration after India defeated South Africa in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final cricket match, at Kensington Oval, in Bridgetown, Barbados. (PTI)
BCCI secretary Jay Shah has revealed why Rahul Dravid didn’t want to continue as Team India’s head coach after the T20 World Cup.
“He told me that due to family commitments he wants to quit and we respect his decision. I didn’t forced him to extend,” Shah told reporters in Barbados.
Shah lauded Dravid for his contribution to the Indian cricket first as a cricketer, then as administrator and coach.
“Rahul bhai has served Indian cricket for the past five and half years. He was director of the National Cricket Academy for three years and then for the past two and half years, he served as head coach of Team India,” said Shah.
India coach Rahul Dravid celebrates after winning the T20 World Cup REUTERS/Ash Allen
Shah also revealed the decision behind extending Rahul Dravid’s coaching tenure after the final loss in 2023 ODI World Cup.
“Rahul Dravid’s role is as important as Rohit Sharma in this T20 World Cup title triumph. He is a man, who took the team to the 2023 ODI World Cup final and didn’t wanted to leave because he wanted to finish the job,” he said.
Shah has said that the Indian team will have a new head coach from the limited-overs series in Sri Lanka starting later this month, but did not reveal who has been finalised to succeed the outgoing Rahul Dravid.
“CAC has interviewed and shortlisted two names and after reaching Mumbai whatever they have decided we will go by that. VVS Laxman is going to Zimbabwe but a new coach will join from the Sri Lanka series,” he said.
The Indian team is due to tour Sri Lanka for three T20Is and three ODIs starting July 27.
Shah added that the transition has gradually begun with the retirement of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja and said that India can field three different teams for three different tournaments.
“We have the biggest bench strength, only three players from this team are going to Zimbabwe. We can field three teams if the need arises and the transition has already happened with three greats retiring,” he said.
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