Top contender for Team India’s head coach position denies offer as BCCI seek overseas options – Reports

Current Team India head coach Rahul Dravid has not reapplied for the top position following his tenure conclusion after the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the USA. The top contender for the job, VVS Laxman, has reportedly denied taking up the opportunity. Laxman has been serving as the National Cricket Academy (NCA) head for three years now, and upon contacting him to replace Dravid as themen’steam head coach, the veteran batter sounded‘uninterested’.

Per the latest report, Laxmanwas discussedas the possible contender to replace Dravid, but he refused to accept the offer for reasons known to him.

BCCI released the job application on their social media handles, with the deadline being May 27.

Though several top players in the team have urged Dravid to reconsider, the Indian veteran denied it, saying he wishes to spend more time with his family following the end of his contract tenure.

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The incoming coach will hold the position for three and a half years

The Indian Cricket Board seeking overseas options forDravid’sreplacement.

Per several media reports, Chennai Super Kings head coach and former New Zealand Captain Stephen Fleming is considered the top choice.

Though the BCCIhasn’treleased the names of applicants yet,Fleming’sname is doing the rounds on the internet.

As successful as his resume is,Fleming’sappointment could boostIndia’schances of breaking the ICC trophy deadlock.

Dravid’stenure as TeamIndia'shead coach

Dravid replaced Ravi Shastri as TeamIndia'shead coach in 2021, guiding them to the semis of the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, the final of the second World Test Championship (WTC) edition and final of the home World Cup last year. But India fell shy of achieving their goal in all those contests.

Under Dravid, India won the home Test series against Australia and England, while winning the Asia Cup last year was the highlight of his tenure.

With the 20-team tournament being his last assignment, hopes are pinned on him to lead India to its maiden ICC trophy for the first time since 2013.

Here is TeamIndia’ssquad for the 2024 T20 World Cup –

Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohd. Siraj

Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan