5 potential candidates to replace Rahul Dravid as Indian Cricket Team head coach

Rahul Dravid’s tenure as Indian Cricket Team head coach will end after the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Rahul Dravid has been the head coach of the Indian Cricket Team since 2021. He was appointed after Ravi Shastri’s tenure was over. However, Dravid’s contract ended after the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, but the BCCI extended his tenure for six months due to ICC T20 World Cup 2024. But now, there are a couple of months left in Dravid’s tenure.

It will end with the conclusion of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024. As a result, the BCCI has opened applications for the position of head coach of the Indian Cricket Team. Furthermore, it has been learned that Rahul Dravid is not willing to reapply for the position, and there’s a possibility BCCI might look for a foreign coach as well. Hence, here we will talk about three potential candidates for the Indian Cricket Team head coach.

Here are five potential candidates to replace Rahul Dravid as Indian Cricket Team head coach

1. VVS Laxman

VVS Laxman is the front-runner to become Indian Cricket Team’s next head coach after Dravid’s exit. He is currently head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, and he has also worked as interim coach of the senior men’s team when Dravid took breaks in his tenure. Just like Dravid, he also has engaged with India’s U19 setup, and can be an ideal replacement.

2. Stephen Fleming

Another name that might be considered is former Kiwi captain and current CSK head coach Stephen Fleming. Some media agencies have reported that India might consider a foreign coach, and Fleming is probably the most successful coach in the Indian Premier League. But there is no update from his side because it requires a commitment of at least 10 months annually.

3. Ricky Ponting

Another name that is coming out is former Australian captain Ricky Ponting. He is the most successful captain of all time, leading Australia to two World Cup titles. He also coached Mumbai Indians when they won the title in 2015, and currently, he is the head coach of Delhi Capitals since 2018. Being a proven match-winner with the bat, strategist as captain and coach in franchise cricket, Ponting can be an ideal choice to become Indian Cricket Team’s next head coach.

4. Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir is currently with Kolkata Knight Riders as mentor in the IPL 2024, and they have made it to the playoffs. He was also with Lucknow Super Giants in 2022 and 2023, and they also made it to the top four. Gambhir is tactically strong and has a good cricketing brain. But the conflicts with some Indian players might go against him.

5. Mike Hesson

Former Kiwi coach Mike Hesson is someone who is familiar with Indian cricket setup. He is probably the most successful Kiwi coach, and New Zealand finished as runners-up in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 under him. He also coached Punjab Kings in the IPL, and in 2019, he joined Royal Challengers Bengaluru as Director of Cricket Operations. He is vastly experienced in his domain and can be a good pick.

Moreover, right after Shastri’s term in 2021, he came very close to becoming Indian head coach, but Rahul Dravid pipped him back then.

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