The BCCI on Monday invited applications for the post of head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team for a period of three-and-a-half years as incumbent Rahul Dravid’s term ends with the T20 World Cup in the Americas next month. According to the board in a press release, the application deadline is May 27, 2024. “The selection process will include a thorough review of applications, followed by in-person interviews and evaluation of shortlisted candidates,” the release continued.
The selected recent coach will take over the team’s leadership from July 1, immediately after the T20 World Cup in the Americas, and his term of office expires on December 31, 2027.
The BCCI stipulated that a candidate under the age of 60 should have played at least 30 Tests or 50 ODIs and the candidate should have played a similar role as a full member of the Test nation for at least two years.
Recently, BCCI secretary Jay Shah said that Dravid will have to reapply if he wants to continue after the T20 World Cup.
“Rahul Dravid’s term is coming to an end. If he is to continue, he must reapply. We are looking for a coach for long-term cooperation, for three years,” Shah recently informed selected media.
However, the proposed long term of office – 3.5 years – makes it tough for Dravid to run for the position again, as he has been in this position since November 2021.
His two-year contract was originally due to expire with last year’s 50 home World Cup caps, but was extended due to lack of time to appoint a recent coach ahead of India’s tour of South Africa and the T20 World Cup in the Americas.
However, the recent coach will have several essential tasks to perform during his term, which may start with the white-ball away series in Sri Lanka in July.
This will be followed by two Test series at home against Bangladesh and Recent Zealand before heading to Australia to take part in the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which is held by India.
This will be followed by the Champions Trophy in Pakistan in 2025 and a tour to England in the middle of that year. A year later, India and Sri Lanka will co-host the T20 World Cup, and in 2027, a World Cup for over 50 players is also planned in South Africa.
The future coach will also have to cope with the transition from stalwart batsman Virat Kohli and current captain Rohit Sharma, who, at 35 and 37 respectively, are in the evening phase of their glittering careers.
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