Chennai, First Published Dec 5, 2021, 9:42 PM IST
Ravi Shastri, who has been the head coach of the Indian team since 2017, has been appointed as the new head coach as his tenure comes to an end with the T20 World Cup. Rahul Dravid, who started his career in the series against New Zealand, will continue as the head coach of the Indian team until the 2023 ODI World Cup. If he wishes, his term may be extended thereafter.
In this context, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly described how difficult it was for the BCCI to persuade Rahul Dravid to take over as coach.
Speaking on the occasion, Sourav Ganguly said, “Jai Shah and I have been talking about appointing Rahul Dravid as the coach for a long time. But Rahul Dravid, the coach of the Indian team, refused to accept the responsibility of coach as he could not be with the children as he had to stay with the team for 8-9 months of the year.
At one point, we stopped insisting on Rahul Dravid and appointed him president of the National Cricket Academy. Even after being assigned to that position, we asked him a few times, to accept the responsibility of coach. When the Indian players were asked what kind of coach they wanted, they too said Rahul Dravid. Telling it to Dravid, I have personally spoken to him many times. I (Ganguly) know that it is very difficult for you (Dravid). But be a coach for only 2 years. Then I thought I could do it another way.
I don’t know how Dravid’s mind changed. Ganguly said that fortunately all of a sudden he was accepted as the coach of the Indian team.
Last Updated Dec 5, 2021, 9:42 PM IST
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