New Delhi: Rahul Dravid will continue as India’s head coach as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday announced the extension of contracts for the coaching staff of Team India (senior men). The BCCI has also extended the contracts of the other members of the support staff, including batting coach Vikram Rathour, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, and fielding coach T Dilip. The BCCI did not specify the length of the contract but Dravid is expected to continue at least until the T20 World Cup 2024.
Dravid was appointed head coach in November 2021 for a two-year contract that ended earlier this month with the conclusion of the 2023 ODI World Cup. Dravid, under whose coaching India finished runners-up in both the World Test Championship (WTC) and the ODI World Cup, has had a good record in the past two years.
The BCCI engaged in productive discussions with Rahul Dravid after the term of his contract ended following the recently concluded ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and unanimously agreed to further the tenure. Dravid’s first assignment as India’s head coach is a tour of South Africa, which begins on December 10 with three T20Is and three ODIs, followed by two Tests in Centurion (from December 26) and Cape Town (from January 3). After that, India will host a five-Test series against England before the T20 World Cup in June.
On his extension, Rahul Dravid said: “The last two years with Team India have been thoroughly memorable. Together, we have witnessed the highs and lows, and throughout this journey, the support and camaraderie within the group have been phenomenal.
“I am genuinely proud of the culture we have set in the dressing room. It’s a culture that stands resilient, whether in moments of triumph or adversity. The skills and talent that our team possesses are phenomenal, and what we’ve stressed is following the right process and sticking to our preparations, which has had a direct impact on the overall result.”
