REPORTS: Rahul Dravid confirmed as India’s head coach till 2023, Paras Mhambrey bowling coach

The IPL 2021 final proved to be pivotal in India’s hunt for the next national team head coach as a Times of India reports state that Sourav Ganguly and BCCI secretary Jay Shah met with Rahul Dravid and persuaded him to be the next head coach.

TOI had reported earlier in the week that Dravid had declined the job and wished to continue as the head of NCA. 

“BCCI spoke with batting legend Rahul Dravid and asked if he would be interested in coaching Team India. Rahul has politely refused. He would like to concentrate on junior cricket and the National Cricket Academy (NCA) that’s based out Bangalore,” said a tweet from a prominent journalist at the time.

What changed that Rahul Dravid took up the role now?

All that is believed to have changed after the talk with Ganguly and Jay Shah and Dravid is supposedly on to be the next head coach with a contract of Rs 10 crore that runs upto the 2023 ODI World Cup set to be held in India. 

“Dravid has confirmed he will be the next head coach of the Indian team. He will step down as the head of NCA soon,” TOI quoted as a top BCCI official stating.

He was re-appointed as the NCA head last month. But the BCCI needed a strong candidate to take Indian cricket forward. He worked so hard to develop the next line of Indian cricketers. Even Mhambrey knows the next line of players like the back of his hand. So, Ganguly and Shah thought it is best if they could bring both of them onboard. They will assume charge from the New Zealand series after the World Cup.”

It is also learnt that Paras Mhambrey will be the next bowling coach with Bharat Arun no longer keen to continue in the role. 

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