Dubai. Rahul Dravid, known for his shrewd knowledge of the game and brilliance as a batsman may become Team India coach.
According to information from India, Anil Kumble who is currently the coach of the Indian team, may be elevated to the post of Team Director, a title which was held by former Indian captain Ravi Shastri.
It is understood that the move is from the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Committee of Administrators (CoA) appointed by the Supreme Court to streamline the cricket activities in India.
Both Kumble and Dravid are formers cricketers with huge repute and were former Indian captains.
Dravid as the coach of India’s Under-19 team had done a remarkable job recently. Under Kumble as coach, India had won a series in West Indies and beat New Zealand, England and Bangladesh at home. Kumble has filed an in-depth report to CoA on not only Team India but also A side, junior and women’s teams.
Kumble’s elevation will be similar to the structure followed by England and Wales Cricket Board whereby a director can spend more time on the overhaul development of the team while a coach can focus on sharpening the techniques of the game. Kumble has been asked to think over the proposal as his task will be enormous. It is likely that the cricket committee made up of Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly, that picked Kumble as coach, might be entrusted with more tasks. It is also likely that one of them might be even asked to handle cricket operations of the BCCI teams. MV Sridhar handles cricketing operations of the team now.
However, CoA member Diana Edulji has stated that any plans of Kumble being asked to give way to Dravid is not correct.
A BCCI source have been quoted by Indian Express as saying: “We need to move ahead with the times and that is why these structural changes are looked at. If it happens, Indian cricket will benefit, as one person will handle all the teams and there will be better coordination between all concerned. The plan is already in place and there is a strong possibility that when new contracts are given out, these changes will be made.”
According to the source all changes will be in effect from mid April before the Champions Trophy in England. One of the reasons mentioned for Kumble being given another role is prevent a burn out due to excess of cricket being played by India and that if Dravid can share the burden it would be useful.
