The Director of Cricket at Rajasthan Royals, Kumar Sangakkara, is the latest overseas IPL coach to decline the opportunity to coach the Indian team. Earlier, the DC head coach Ricky Ponting and LSG coach Justin Langer said no to the job. Sangakkara made denied rumors that he was considering a full-time coaching position with the Indian team. He is happy with Rajasthan Royals. Sangakkara stated that he was not approached by the BCCI and did not have the time to commit fully to the coaching job.
After RR’s loss to SRH, Sangakkara spoke to the press in Chennai. He was questioned about the opportunity to coach the Indian team. “I’ve not had any approaches, and I cannot spare the time to dedicate myself to a full-time coaching position in India. I am happy with my stay with the Royals. We’ll see how it proceeds.”
On Friday, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah refuted rumors that the board contacted former Australian players to replace Rahul Dravid. Jay Shah highlighted the need for someone with a “deep understanding” of the game’s structure in India.
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While former Australian player Ricky Ponting has claimed that he turned down proposal for the job, Dravid has informed the BCCI that he is not seeking a third term. A thorough understanding of Indian domestic cricket will be a crucial factor in selecting the next coach.
The BCCI granted Dravid and his entire support team an extension till the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 after their initial contracts expired in November last year. The deadline to apply for the job is May 27. The Cricket Advisory Committee of Sulakshana Naik, Ashok Malhotra, and Jatin Paranjape will interview the shortlisted candidates after thoroughly reviewing the applications.