The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that it will be searching for a new head coach for the Indian cricket team following the conclusion of the T20 World Cup in the US and Caribbean in June. This announcement comes amidst speculation about the future of current head coach Rahul Dravid, whose tenure began in November 2021 and was extended to include the T20 World Cup.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah confirmed that Dravid can reapply for the position if he wishes to. However, it is understood that Dravid is unlikely to seek reappointment for the current role. His two-year contract ended with India’s defeat in the final of the ODI World Cup last November.
The new head coach will be appointed for a three-year term, which will extend to the 2027 ODI World Cup. While the possibility of hiring a foreign coach has not been ruled out, India is unlikely to opt for a split coaching role for limited overs and Test formats.
Shah also mentioned that other members of the coaching staff, such as batting, bowling, and fielding coaches, will be decided after consulting with the new head coach. The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), comprising former players Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjape, and Sulakshana Naik, will finalize the appointment of a national selector.
The future of the controversial ‘Impact Player’ rule in the IPL was also discussed, with Shah stating that its continuation will be decided after consultations with franchises and broadcasters. The rule, introduced in 2023, allows two extra Indian players to be included in an IPL side.
Regarding the 2027 World Test Championship (WTC) final, Shah revealed that discussions have taken place with the ICC about holding the event outside of England. The first two WTC finals were held in the UK, with the third scheduled for Lord’s Cricket Ground in 2025.
There has been speculation about Shah taking up the position of International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman later this year, but he remained tight-lipped about his future plans, jokingly saying, “Let there be speculation. But let me be here (in the BCCI). Am I not doing a good job?”
In other updates, there will be no increase in the remuneration for domestic players, and India’s T20 vice-captain Hardik Pandya has agreed to play in the Syed Mushtaq Ali and Vijay Hazare white-ball domestic tournaments. The High-Performance Centre at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru is set to be operational from August.
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