Rahul Dravid appointed Team India's Head Coach

Dubai: Former India Captain Rahul Dravid is all set to don the mantle of head coach of Team India, replacing Ravi Shastri, after the ongoing T20 World Cup in Dubai.

The Cricket Advisory Committee comprising Sulakshana Naik and RP Singh on Wednesday unanimously appointed Dravid.

"It is an absolute honour to be appointed as the new Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team and I am really looking forward to this role. Under Mr Shastri, the team has done very well, and I hope to work with the team to take this forward," Dravid was quoted as saying by the BCCI.

The BCCI had invited applications for the said position on October 26 to appoint Ravi Shastri’s successor, whose term gets over after the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup.

"Having worked closely with most of the boys either at NCA, U19 and India A setup, I know they have the passion and desire to improve every day. There are some marquee multi-team events in the next two years, and I look forward to working with the players and the support staff to achieve our potential," he added.

The former India captain will take charge from the upcoming home series against New Zealand.

Congratulating Shastri, B Arun (Bowling Coach), R Sridhar (Fielding Coach) and Vikram Rathour (Batting Coach) on a successful tenure, BCCI said under Shastri, the Indian Cricket Team adopted a bold and fearless approach and performed creditably both in home and away conditions.

India climbed to the top position in the Test format and made it to the final of the inaugural World Test Championship in England, the Board said.

India became the first Asian team to win a Test series in Australia (2018-19) and followed it with another series win in 2020-21, BCCI said.

"India were also the first team to win all 5 T20Is in a bilateral series when it blanked New Zealand 5-0. Under Shastri and his team’s guidance, India won all their seven Test series at home," it added.

Welcoming Dravid as the Head Coach, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly said Rahul has had an illustrious playing career and is one of the greats of the game and hoped that his new stint will take Indian cricket to new heights.

Dravid has also served Indian cricket as Head of National Cricket Academy (NCA) with distinction, he said.

"Rahul’s effort at the NCA has nurtured several young cricketing talents who have gone on to represent the country at the international stage. I am hopeful that his new stint will take Indian cricket to new heights," Ganguly said.

BCCI Honorary Secretary Jay Shah said there is no better person than Dravid to don the mantle of the Head Coach.

With two World Cups scheduled to take place in the next two years, it is important to have a seamless transition, and the former India captain is the right man for the job, he said.

"Having provided the much-needed direction to NCA and overseen the progression of the boys at India U-19 and India A level, we believe this is also a natural progression for him as a coach," he said.

Shah said he has no doubt that under him, the Indian team will dominate in all formats.

The Board will soon make appointments of other coaching staff, who will support the Head Coach in jointly achieving its targets, he added. (UNI)