Rahul Dravid is the front runner to become coach of Team India for SL Tour

May 20, 2021

The former Indian batsman Rahul Dravid, who is also the National Cricket Academy chief is reportedly to be coach of Team India that will travel for the tour of Sri Lanka.

Rahul Dravid to become the Team India coach?

The former Indian skipper is likely to take up the role of coach for Team India amid the absence of head coach Ravi Shastri as he be with the Indian Test squad in the UK for the World Test Championship vs New Zealand, followed by the five-Test series against England.

As per the reports of ESPNCricinfo, the former India A and Under-19 coach is currently leading the race to take charge of the limited-overs squad that will play ODI and T20Is in Sri Lanka in July. India is set to play three T20Is and three ODIs in Sri Lanka between July 13 and 27.

The squad for the tour has not been announced yet but it seems with 20 senior players heading for England, the squad for SL Tour will see several youngsters from the India A squad.

Board of Control for Cricket in India(BCCI) official told news agency ANI that “The Team India coaching staff will be in the UK and it is best that the young team is guided by Dravid as he has already worked with almost all of the India ‘A’ boys. The comfort the youngsters share with him will be an added advantage.”

It has been also mentioned in the report that bowling coach Bharat Arun, batting coach Vikram Rathour and fielding coach R Sridhar being involved in England series, the other members of the NCA – including former Indian pacer Paras Mhambrey, who has been in charge of the India A and Under 19 teams as their bowling coach would travel for SL Tour with Dravid.

The tour will commence with the ODIs first and will be played on following dates- July 13, 16 and 19. Next the teams will clash in the T20Is on July 22, 24 and 27. Dravid is likely to get the assignment with the team and it will mark the second time he would be involved with the senior squad as he had previously worked with the team in the role of batting consultant during India’s tour of England back in 2014.