On Wednesday, November 29, the BCCI declared the contract extensions for the Indian men’s team coaches. This includes head coach, Rahul Dravid.
The announcement didn’t clearly state how long the contract extension would last. Yet, it’s thought that Rahul Dravid and his team – Rathour, batting coach, Mhambrey, bowling coach, and Dilip, fielding coach, will stay on. At least until the T20 World Cup happening in June 2024.
The coaching team we previously mentioned had their contracts end after the ODI World Cup. Even though India won ten matches in a row before the final, they lost to Australia. Now, VVS Laxman is managing the Indian team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, in the current T20I series against Australia.
Rahul Dravid’s team sets off for South Africa in December. The tour includes three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Tests. The coaching staff must confront a handful of challenges and queries before the tour. This also covers the time before the T20 World Cup, and possibly even after it.
In this regard, we look at three significant issues that Rahul Dravid must solve if he is to continue as India’s coach.
1. The Future of India’s T20I Stars: Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli haven’t played a T20 World Cup 2022 game since India’s semifinal defeat. While some of it may be attributed to task management in an effort to favor the 50-over format, the moment has come to discuss the way forward.
Different stories are going around about the possible future of these two T20Is leaders. Are they going to be part of the team’s bold moves before the World Cup? The event is in the West Indies and USA in 2024.
With Hardik Pandya leading India in the majority of T20 games over the last year and a number of youngsters grabbing their opportunities – Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Rinku Singh to name a few – Rahul Dravid must make a decision to ensure that the best team for that World Cup plays as many games as possible.
After taking a couple of strides forward, the think-tank would like to take four steps back. Do they see Rohit and Virat as important players in their quest for a championship next year? Whatever the solution is, Rahul Dravid and the selectors must remain focused and communicate well.
2. How to Begin the Test Team’s Transition?
India won a 1-0 series in the West Indies to start the World Test Championship cycle for 2023–25. They will now play a two-match rubber in South Africa, a country they had never played a Test series in.
After passing up their greatest chance to win a series in the rainbow nation in 2021-22, not much has altered in terms of the team’s transformation. Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane were both dropped following it, only to be recalled at various points by Rahul Dravid. Rahane was also selected vice-captain for the West Indies Tests, despite his lackluster batting performances.
Other than the South Africa trip, India’s upcoming Test assignments are as follows: a five-match series against England at home and a five-game visit to Australia at the end of 2024.
With the majority of the batting squad in their thirties and Rishabh Pant unlikely to play in South Africa, a difficult transition time awaits. This is especially true for Jaiswal and Gill, who played in the Caribbean and lacked expertise in seam-friendly conditions.
If the batting change is not executed flawlessly, India may have difficulties in the future when the majority of its batters lack cumulative experience. With Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin not getting any younger, things might get difficult at home as well. This is another issue that Rahul Dravid needs to resolve.
3. The leadership roadmap
While Pandya will captain India in the T20 World Cup if Rohit does not play, the latter’s future will be complicated by another question: who will be the next long-term captain, and is split-captaincy an option?
The second is unavoidable if Pandya is appointed to lead one, if not both, white-ball teams, given his lack of Test experience. Pant’s return will also have to be managed carefully, and entrusting him with leadership immediately does not seem prudent.
This leaves KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Jasprit Bumrah as probable contenders, however Bumrah’s workload management is a disadvantage. The potential of cultivating a very young leader in Shubman Gill cannot be ruled out at this time, but there are lots of possibilities on the table with no apparent standout – a reality highlighted by the number of captains India has had since the start of 2022.
This type of challenge is common in the aftermath of an ODI World Cup. While it is uncertain how long Rahul Dravid will coach India in the next four-year cycle, the seeds of a peaceful transition must be sowed under his eyes from soon.
