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Legendary Hyderabad bat VVS Laxman could be the next Test coach of India if Rahul Dravid is averse to staying on as a Test team coach.
Laxman is keen on the job and is currently the chairman of the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. He will apply for the job soon. Laxman was also in line to become the coach two-and-a-half years ago and was kept as a back-up if Dravid said no to the job.
Two years ago, the board officials had convinced Dravid to take the mantle of head coach.
Although Dravid’s contract expired with the 2023 World Cup, the board requested him to serve for another six months or so.
Laxman became the NCA chairman and kept filling up for Dravid whenever the latter went on a break from national coach duty. “So, it is a natural transition. But if the board members are eyeing a foreign coach, then it is a different story,” a source told CricBlogger.
With IPL being a big money-spinner for all the foreign coaches from Ricky Ponting, Justin Langer, Stephen Fleming to Andy Flower, the board still won’t mind an Indian face. There is also a talk about Gautam Gautam joining the bandwagon as a white ball coach. It can only happen if both parties mutually agree.
With BCCI yet to name the north zone selector due of lack of choice, how many Indians or foreigners would be a ready to coach Team India? “Even the money offered to India’s head coach isn’t as lucrative as the IPL coaches. So, how many will actually get interested remains to be seen? Who will have the time to coach a national side for 10 months?” a source asked while adding that even a former Ranji Trophy player isn’t interested to apply for selector’s job because he is making enough from IPL and other state coaching jobs.
There were also suggestions for names like Ashish Nehra and MS Dhoni for India’s white ball coach duty. But none of them are interested in doing the job.
Will BCCI try to convince Dravid to continue as Test match coach? It all depends on Dravid — if he is ready to find time after his family, he can join in. The board could also be open to the idea of appointing two coaches for two formats. However, Indian coaches for the Indian team should be the mantra of BCCI if all goes well!
