Who could replace Rahul Dravid as India’s Head Coach?

The Indian men’s national cricket team has begun its search for the next Head Coach as Rahul Dravid’s tenure approaches its end.

Dravid was handed a short-term extension when his two-year contract expired following India’s defeat to Australia in the ODI World Cup final in November 2023.

That loss extended India’s trophy drought to over a decade, with their last major success being the 2013 Champions Trophy.

Dravid’s Head Coach role will come to an end after the 2024 T20 World Cup, which gets underway on June 1 in the United States and the West Indies.

Given that Dravid is believed not to be interested in reapplying for the position, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has invited applications for the Indian team’s Head Coach role.

The BCCI want a coach to lead the national team until the end of 2027.

The pool of possible candidates will be small as the Head Coach will be expected to manage all three formats, which would mean being on the road for most of the year with some breaks in between.

Given the application deadline is May 27, 2024, we look at who could replace Rahul Dravid as India’s Head Coach.

VVS Laxman

On paper, the most obvious choice to replace Rahul Dravid is VVS Laxman.

The former Indian batsman is known for his impressive career in Test cricket.

Laxman is currently a coach at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and already has experience coaching the men’s national team on an interim basis whenever Dravid has been unavailable.

This gives him an edge in terms of experience and the players are fairly familiar with his style.

However, reports suggest that it could be difficult to get Laxman on board as he is apparently not too keen to take up the role, which is set to last three years and involve all formats.

Nevertheless, Laxman remains a safe choice should he become India’s Head Coach.

Stephen Fleming

Stephen Fleming is a prominent name in the race to succeed Rahul Dravid.

The New Zealander knows Indian cricket inside out and as a coach, he has successfully guided the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to five IPL titles.

Fleming’s calm demeanour, proven man-management skills and top-tier technical knowledge have earned many admirers in the Indian cricket establishment.

But it might be difficult to give up his role at Chennai Super Kings.

CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan also said that Fleming does not seem very keen on the India Head Coach job.

He revealed: “Actually, I got a lot of calls from the Indian journalists enquiring whether Stephen is interested in taking up a job with the Indian team.

“So I jocularly asked Stephen, have you applied for the Indian coaching assignment?”

“And Stephen just laughed and said, Do you want me to?

“I know that it’s not going to be his cup of tea because he doesn’t like to be involved for nine to 10 months in a year. That is my feeling. I have not discussed anything more with him,”

Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir is the most eye-catching name in the race to become the next Head Coach of the national team.

While Gambhir has no coaching experience at international or domestic levels, he has been part of the coaching staff at two IPL franchises.

He was a mentor at the Lucknow Super Giants in 2022 and 2023, qualifying for the playoffs in both seasons.

Gambhir joined Kolkata Knight Riders for the 2024 season and they have reached the final.

Gambhir’s move to KKR was unexpected but it is reported that he was persuaded to become the team’s mentor by the franchise’s principal owner Shah Rukh Khan.

He has a reputation for decisiveness and the ability to enforce discipline when necessary.

As a seasoned Delhi veteran, he is known for being a strict taskmaster and may likely seek greater control over the team, which is not the way Indian cricket teams have been managed of late.

AB De Villiers

Former South Africa batsman AB De Villiers is a name that has cropped up in recent weeks, despite not officially coaching a team.

He has provided mentorship and guidance to players, especially in leagues like the IPL. However, he hasn’t taken on a formal coaching role.

De Villiers was asked about whether he would take on the role of India’s next Head Coach and was open to the idea.

He said: “I absolutely have no idea. I do think I’ll enjoy coaching.

“I think there’s certain elements I won’t enjoy as much, which I will have to learn. With time, anything is possible and I can think on my feet and learn as I move on.

“But I think there are elements of a coaching job that I’ll enjoy a lot.”

“Things that I’ve learned over the years, the maturity that I’ve got now at the age of 40, looking back, a lot of things look a lot clearer when I look back at my career.

“So those kind of learnings could be valuable for some younger players, even some senior players.”

It is unlikely that the BCCI will appoint an inexperienced figure but there is still the possibility of a huge surprise.

Mahela Jayawardene

Legendary Sri Lankan cricketer Mahela Jayawardene has been rumoured to succeed Rahul Dravid.

Jayawardene has coached the Mumbai Indians to three IPL titles and is currently the side’s global head of performance, where he’s in charge of the coaching and scouting of MI franchises in various global T20 leagues like the SA20 and ILT20.

He has also worked as Sri Lanka’s batting coach.

Jayawardene excels in man-management and maintaining a healthy dressing room environment, both crucial elements for any team’s success.

Despite his links to the Head Coach role, sources said Jayawardene “hasn’t applied nor has been approached for the top job and is currently happy at the MI set-up”.

With the May 27 deadline still a few days away, there is still the possibility that Jayawardene will throw his hat into the ring.

The search for Rahul Dravid’s successor as India’s Head Coach involves considering a range of candidates with diverse strengths and experiences.

The ideal replacement will need to possess not only strategic acumen and a deep understanding of the game but also the ability to manage players effectively and foster a positive team environment.

Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer have been offered the role but turned it down.

So whether the choice falls on a seasoned international coach or a former Indian cricket stalwart, the future head coach will have the challenging task of guiding the Indian cricket team to new heights.

The ultimate decision will be pivotal in shaping the direction and success of Indian cricket in the coming years.