Even as the IPL is nearing its business end, BCCI has sounded the bugle, inviting applications for the potential successor of Indian team head coach Rahul Dravid. This move comes as Rahul Dravid's tenure ends after the T20 World Cup in 2024.

According to sources, India may hire a foreign head coach after nearly a decade. Notable triumphs under prior foreign coaches, such as John Wright and Gary Kirsten, make this option appealing. Wright led India to the 2003 ODI World Cup finals, and Kirsten oversaw India's victory in the 2011 ODI World Cup after a 28-year absence. The deadline for coach applications is May 27, paving the way for crucial decisions in Indian cricket.

There have been reports that the board is considering former New Zealand captain and current CSK head coach Stephen Fleming as a potential successor to Dravid. However, given the BCCI's requirement that the new head coach be in charge of all three formats, it remains to be seen whether Fleming would apply for the position, which will need him to stay with the squad for 10 months per year.

However, why can't India look at someone like Gautam Gambhir for the head coach role? Gambhir, known for his tactical and leadership abilities, could be a possibility. The former India opener, who played pivotal roles in the finals of the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup, assisting the team to victory on both occasions, served as the mentor of the Super Giants for two seasons in 2022-2023. Notably, LSG qualified for the IPL playoffs on both times and led KKR to the IPL 2024 playoffs.

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah may have rejected the idea of having different coaches for different formats, but maybe in the next few years, the Indian team might need to look for different coaches for the red-ball and white-ball formats.

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Produced & Mixed By Sachin Dwivedi