MS Dhoni likely to help BCCI onboard Stephen Fleming as Indian head coach - Reports

MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming have been working together at CSK for more than a decade.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly decided to take assistance from former India captain MS Dhoni in persuading Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming to apply his name for the Indian men’s team head coach position.

Earlier this month, the BCCI invited applications for the head coach role of the men’s team as Rahul Dravid’s tenure will conclude in June after the T20 World Cup. The tenure of the new head coach will run until the end of 2027 World Cup. The deadline for the submission of applications is 6 P.M. on May 27.

According to a recent report in Hindustan Times, the board is keen to onboard Stephen Fleming, who has an excellent record as CSK’s head coach over the years. Fleming has been CSK’s coach since 2009 and won five titles. However, the Kiwi has expressed reluctance because he wishes to spend more time with his family, something that won’t be possible if he takes up the India coach’s role, since it would require him to work for 10 months a year.

Apart from being CSK’s coach in the IPL, Fleming is also the coach of CSK’s sister franchises Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket, Joburg Super Kings in SA20. He also coaches Southern Brave in The Hundred. Despite handling franchises in four different leagues, Fleming gets plenty of time with his family. He would have to let go of some of that should he agree to take India’s head coach position.

BCCI members are set to approach MS Dhoni to talk with Stephen Fleming

Even though BCCI has reportedly approached Gautam Gambhir, Justin Langer, and Mahela Jayawardene to apply, the board still believes Fleming would be the perfect man. For that, the BCCI is likely to ask MS Dhoni to intervene and persist Fleming into considering the job. Dhoni has been working with Fleming since more than a decade.

A BCCI source told Hindustan Times, “Fleming hasn’t said no. He has expressed his concerns about the tenure of the contract, which is nothing unusual. Even Rahul Dravid wasn’t keen in the beginning. He was persuaded. It shouldn’t be a surprise if the same thing happens with Fleming. And who better than MS Dhoni to do the job?”

CSK have been already knocked out of the IPL 2024, and the board members could approach Dhoni soon to make a case to Fleming.

“Opening channels with Dhoni during the IPL was not the right thing to do, but now it may be worth a shot,” the source added.

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