Rahul Dravid, the esteemed head coach of the Indian senior men's cricket team, has confirmed that the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 will mark the conclusion of his tenure. Dravid, a former India captain, announced his decision not to seek reapplication for the position, as his contract concludes with the conclusion of the ICC event. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had recently advertised for the role.
Stating scheduling constraints and personal considerations, Dravid underscored that the current T20 World Cup will be his swan song. Addressing the media before India's opening match against Ireland in New York, he emphasised the tournament's significance and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to coach India. Dravid conveyed his affection for the role, his satisfaction in mentoring the Indian team, and his admiration for the players he has had the privilege to work with.
"Every tournament is important. Every game that I've coached for India has been very important for me. So, for me, this is no different just because it is going to be the last one that I'm in charge of. I love doing the job. I've enjoyed coaching India and I think it's a truly special job to do. I enjoyed working with this team and it's a great bunch of boys to work with but yeah just considering, unfortunately just the kind of schedules and where I find myself in the stage in my life, I don't think I'll be able to reapply," Dravid said as quoted by PTI ahead of the India vs Ireland T20 World Cup 2024 match in New York.
Since assuming the role of head coach from Ravi Shastri in November 2021, following the culmination of the T20 World Cup in Dubai, Rahul Dravid has presided over a significant period for Indian cricket. His tenure has encompassed the 2022 T20 World Cup, the 2023 World Test Championship final, and the 2023 ODI World Cup. While the ODI World Cup 2023 was initially anticipated to mark the conclusion of his tenure, Dravid extended his commitment until the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024.
Under Dravid's stewardship, India has enjoyed remarkable success. The team secured victory in 14 out of 17 bilateral T20I series, showcasing their prowess with notable series triumphs in England and New Zealand. Furthermore, India emerged triumphant in 10 of 14 ODI series and 6 of 8 Test series during his coaching tenure, highlighting the team's consistent performance across formats under his guidance.