Sunil Gavaskar, the former India captain, and the legendary batsman, has welcomed Rahul Dravid’s decision to apply for Team India’s head coach job. He opined that the latter is the best person to take the baton forward.
Incidentally, the post will become vacant after incumbent Ravi Shastri’s tenure comes to an end after the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. The BCCI has categorically denied reports of Rahul Dravid taking up the job after reports emerged that Rahul Dravid is set to become the next India coach. But Sunil Gavaskar believes it’s a mere formality.
Sunil Gavaskar: Rahul Dravid Applying For Head Coach’s Post Is Just A Formality
Nothing has been decided on Rahul Dravid’s tenure as India coach. However, the contract will likely be for two years initially and will be up for renewal, as 2023 is a landmark year when India hosts the 50-over World Cup. Furthermore, no promises have been made to Rahul Dravid about his return to the National Cricket Academy (NCA), where he has enjoyed working all these years, after the end of his India role.
Sunil Gavaskar said: “Without a doubt. I don’t think anyone else even needs to apply anymore. The way he has handled the Under-19 team, given them direction, the manner in which he has worked at the NCA, it just shows his capability… not only inside the ground but out of it as well. He is good at administrative duties too; he has that capability. And that is why I think him applying for the post is just a formality.”
Rahul Dravid is currently the director of the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. He was recently appointed as the interim head coach for the Sri Lanka series, with Ravi Shastri busy with the Test team in England. The new coach has been offered a hefty contract and will be drawing a salary of Rs 10 crore. The amount makes him one of the highest-paid Indian coaches.
This will be the third time when Rahul Dravid will be working with Team India. His first stint came in 2014 when he travelled to England as a batting consultant for the Test series. In July 2021, he returned as interim head coach for Sri Lankan limited-overs tour as Ravi Shastri-led coaching staff was in England for a Test series.
Madan Lal: There Can’t Be A Better Candidate Than Rahul Dravid As Indian Coach
Another former cricketer Madan Lal also echoed Sunil Gavaskar’s words, saying that it is the best thing that has happened to Indian cricket in recent times.
“Like Sunny bhai (Sunil Gavaskar) mentioned, he already has led India A and Under-19 teams to so many tours and recently even coached the national team in Sri Lanka, so when you start coaching from a junior level, you know the players that have come through the ranks,” Madan Lal said.
“This is the best thing that has happened. He has graduated from the bottom and there can’t be a better candidate. He has a calm demeanour and has several qualities that will help the Indian team go even higher,” he added.
However, the BCCI is yet to officially announce Rahul Dravid taking over the job after Ravi Shastri’s tenure comes to an end. In November, Rahul Dravid is likely to take over as the head coach and will be appointed on a two-year contract until the 2023 ODI World Cup. The T20 World Cup 2021 will be Ravi Shastri’s final tournament as the team’s head coach.
The tenures of Ravi Shastri, Bharat Arun, and R Sridhar are all ending after India’s T20 World Cup campaign. Meanwhile, Indian batting coach Vikham Rathour is eligible for another stint with the Indian team.