The signs are clear. It appears that Ravi Shastri is not showing interest in extending his association with the Indian cricket team as its head coach beyond the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup starting next month. If true, this would be the culmination of a four-year association that began in 2017 when Anil Kumble resigned from the post under controversial circumstances.
Under Shastri, India have achieved many milestones, more significantly in Test cricket including reaching the final of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship, winning back-to-back series on Australian shores and the recent tour of England where their The team was ahead of 2. The last competition was canceled due to the outbreak of covid at the touring camp before 1.
Several names are being discussed as his possible successor. Here we take a look at the top contenders who can be appointed for the role.
Rahul Dravid
Dravid’s excellent work with the Indian Junior and A teams makes him a top prospect for the top post. The fact that he has been in the system for a significant period and has been nurturing domestic stars, some of whom are now representing India, makes him an automatic choice. Between 2016 and 2019, apart from his rich coaching experience during various India A tours, he was also at the helm of India’s Under-19 teams, which were runners-up in 2016, before becoming champions in 2018.
He has since been the director of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and was appointed as the head coach of the Indian team’s limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka in June this year. Although Dravid has again applied for the position in the NCA, he has been ruled out over the controversy that he should be reappointed. Also, he is reportedly not interested in the role on a permanent basis.
BCCI President Sourav Ganguly has said that the board has not formally approached the veteran batsman but is keeping the doors open.
Anil Kumble
India legend Kumble is not new to the rule. In fact, he served as their coach for a year between June 2016 and June 2017 before stepping down, citing his partnership with skipper Virat Kohli as being ‘untenable’. Kohli still remains India’s captain although he will step down in T20Is after the World Cup. It will be an interesting option if Kumble makes a comeback.
Since 2019, Kumble is serving as the head coach of the IPL franchise Punjab Kings.
M S Dhoni
This could be a wishful appointment. Dhoni retired from international cricket in 2020 and has given no indication that he wants to become a coach. But his appointment as Team India’s mentor for the T20 World Cup fueled the rumors of the legendary captain returning to the set-up in a full-time capacity.
He has no experience of full-time coaching but there is no doubt about his sharp cricketing mind. He has a rich leadership experience and many members of the current India team, including Kohli, have repeatedly cited his influence in shaping their careers. His stature, record winning ICC trophies could be the perfect tonic as the current team seeks its first global title since 2013.
VVS Laxman
Batting legend Laxman has been serving as the Bengal Ranji team’s batting consultant since 2020 and has been associated with IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad as their mentor for some time now, including in 2016 when he made his first and only won the league title.
Laxman is widely regarded as one of the finest batsmen to have played Test cricket. He scored 8,781 runs in 134 Tests, including 17 centuries and 56 half-centuries. In ODIs, he scored 2338 runs in 83 innings, including 10 centuries and 10 fifties.
In addition, he was part of the three-member Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), also comprising Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, which was created to assist the BCCI in top cricket matters, including the appointment of head coaches.
Vikram Rathour
Rathor may not have a great resume among the potential candidates when it comes to playing international cricket, but he has an impressive coaching experience. The former wicketkeeper-batsman represented India in six Tests and seven ODIs but was a prolific run-scorer in the domestic circuit, where he played for Punjab. He scored over 11,000 runs in first-class cricket with 33 centuries and 49 fifties. In 99 List A games, he scored 3161 runs with seven centuries and 14 fifties. There were also 251 dismissals in his name across formats.
He is the current assistant coach of the Indian cricket team and prior to his promotion, he served as their batting coach. Additionally, he has also served as the head coach of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh in the past.
Between 2012 and 2016, he was a member of the Indian Selection Committee. And as per reports, a long association with the national setup may work in his favour.
foreign candidates
The last foreigner appointed as an Indian coach was Duncan Fletcher of Zimbabwe between 2011 and 2015. And since then, the BCCI has been placing its faith in Indians wearing the caps of Shastri, Kumble, Sanjay Bangar and Dravid.
While there is no official word on the Indian cricket board possibly looking for a foreign coach, there are rumors that Sri Lankan legend Mahela Jayawardene has been approached if he is interested. Jayawardene has been the coach of IPL franchise Mumbai Indians and has won the title thrice under his leadership. Earlier this year, he directed the Southern Brave (men’s team) to win the title in the inaugural The Hundred competition.
Prior to this, he has served as a batting consultant for the England men’s team, as well as coaching Bangladesh Premier League franchise Khulna Titans. In July this year, the 44-year-old also took up the role of a consultant for the Sri Lanka U-19 cricket team.
But like Dravid, Mahela is also not interested in taking up a full-time job for an international team as he “doesn’t want to be out of suitcases 12 months out of the year.”
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