Rahul Dravid confirms ICC T20 World Cup 2024 as his last assignment as India head coach

Under Rahul Dravid, India won Asia Cup 2023 in Sri Lanka.

Legendary cricketer Rahul Dravid, who is serving as the head coach of the Indian Men’s senior cricket team, has confirmed that the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 will be his last assignment as the head coach for Men in Blue.

Last month, the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) invited applications to hire new head coach for the Men in Blue. The deadline for applying for the post was May 27. The new head coach will be having a three-year all-format contract that will run till the end of ODI World Cup 2027.

Earlier, many reports emerged that Dravid will not re-apply for the head coach job, and 2007 World T20 and 2011 ODI World Cup winner Gautam Gambhir is likely to take the responsibility after Dravid’s tenure.

Previously, Dravid’s tenure ended after the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup. But, the Indian cricket board extended his contract and hired the same support staff forfew months, with the next ICC tournament coming shortly.

During Dravid’s tenure, India won their only major championship by defeating Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2023 final. The Men in Blue also played two ICC finals in 2023. They played the World Test Championship Final and the ODI World Cup final but lost both championship matches by the hands of mighty Australia.

It is going to be the last one that I am in-charge of: Rahul Dravid

The Rohit Sharma-led India will play their first group stage match in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024 against Paul Stirling-led Ireland on June 5. The much awaited clash will be played at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.

However, ahead of Ireland clash, Men in Blue head coach Rahul Dravid has confirmed that this ICC event will be his last assignment with the team and he will not re-apply for the job.

“It is going to be the last one that I am in-charge of. Yeah, just considering, unfortunately, the kind of schedules and where I find myself at this stage in my life, I don’t think I’ll be able to re-apply. So yeah, obviously it’ll be my last one. But having said that, it’s (the significance of the tournament is) no different for me,” Rahul Dravid said ahead of India’s first game against Ireland in New York.

On being asked about whether he looked at the ongoing global event as an ‘extra special’ tournament, given that this will be his last assignment, to which the India head coach answered that he loved doing his job and that he enjoyed working with the current group of the Men in Blue.

“I love doing the job. I’ve really enjoyed coaching India and I think it’s a truly special job to do, and I enjoyed working with this team and it’s a great bunch of boys to work with,” Dravid further said.

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