Rahul Dravid will not extend his coaching contract with Team India after the heartbreaking six-wicket defeat to Australia in the final of the ICC World Cup 2023 at the Narendra Modi Stadium on November 19. It was his last game with the Men in Blue, according to the Times of India.
Dravid’s two-year contract ended with the conclusion of the global tournament and he has decided not to continue and has communicated about his intention to the Board of Control for Cricket in India. He is likely to be replaced by VVS Laxman, who is the head of the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.
Laxman is currently coaching the Indian team for the five-match T20I series against Australia. He has already worked with the national team on two occasions in the past.
“Laxman wants to become the coach. During the World Cup, Laxman met the top board officials in this regard. He will be signing a long-time contract as the Team India coach, and will travel with the players for the upcoming tour of South Africa,” a reliable source in the BCCI told TOI.
The opening game of the T20I series against South Africa is scheduled for December 10
“Dravid has communicated to the BCCI that he doesn’t want to continue. He wants to go back to NCA,” the source said.
Another source told the Times of India that Dravid is in touch with one of the Indian Premier League franchise. “He’s in talks with an IPL franchise for a two-year contract,” the source revealed.
India failed to win an ICC trophy under Dravid’s two-year period. They won the Asia Cup just before the World Cup. The sub-continent nation won the home Test series against Australia, Sri Lanka and New Zealand, and the away Test games in Bangladesh and West Indies. India thumped Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Sri Lanka in home T20I series.
The team lost in the Test series and one-day internationals in South Africa and the deciding fifth Test in England.