Should Rahul Dravid Become Coach Of Indian Team Or Should He Concentrate On U19s?
Mar 14, 2017 at 5:09 PM
A strong buzz has gripped the attention of all the cricket fans in India. It is believed that the Indian Cricket team is set to see some major changes in its structure as the Supreme Court appointed BCCI Committee of Administrators (COA) wants to promote Anil Kumble to the position of Team director and appoint Rahul Dravid as the Head Coach.
With Kumble as director and Dravid as the coach, the fans have been quick to assume that the best minds will be behind the scenes of Indian cricket. Everything looks exciting but there are some issues and the whole idea seems premature
When Kumble was selected by the celebrated panel, many felt that a one year’s tenure is too short for any coach. And, the only way forward here should be extending the 46-year-old’s tenure support him in getting his plans materialise.
Elevating Kumble away from the coaching role would leave his job undone. It seems quite unnecessary for such changeover to take place. It would be sensible to let both the individuals retain their jobs.
Dravid has been also wonderful at the helm of the junior teams. Soon after taking over, the juniors marched into the finals of the u-19 World Cup. Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan, Sarfaraz Khan and Armaan Jaffer are some of the names groomed by Dravid and they look ready to play the higher level already. His influence over them has been magnificent.
Also, his work with the India A team has also been fruitful. One example of the change he can bring around is – Hardik Pandya. He can thank no one but Dravid for his resurgence in the national team after a brief downfall in mid-2016. The all-rounder, who loves to be flamboyant, came under the scanner for his attitude and inconsistency. However, a simple tour of Australia and a few week with Dravid changed him as cricketer overall and he is in the test reckoning once again.
The reason behind scripting his qualities is simple. Dravid looks best suited in the grooming role, at least at the moment. He himself wishes to be in those shoes where he can be with the promising teenagers and help them leap to the senior level. If he had the ambitions of leading the Indian team as the coach, he would have expressed it eight months ago when his name was put forward during the headline-grabbing selection process.
Moreover, the home season is an easy task as opposed playing on foreign shores. Letting Kumble work with the unit for the next phase seems optimistic rather than bringing in Dravid as the new coach. Away tours are game changers and failures there can put Dravid’ abilities as a coach and the team character under scrutiny.
Why let the trouble brew for the future with such sweeping decisions when everything seems perfectly in line?
Let’s hope the rumours which are doing rounds remain as rumours and the COA acknowledge these factors before leaping onto making a decision.