Rahul Dravid to remain India head coach, BCCI extends contracts for support staff

After a recent spell of good performances by India's men's cricket team, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday (November 29) announced the extension of contracts for head coach Rahul Dravid as well as the support staff. 

Dravid had been serving as head coach for Team India for the past two years. His contract expired this month after the recently concluded ICC Men’s ODI World Cup. However, the tenure for Dravid's contract extension has not been decided yet. 

During the period when Dravid was out of contract, VVS Laxman took up the role of stand-in head coach. Laxman is head coach for India in the ongoing five-match T20I series against Australia. Laxman also heads the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Dravid will take the helm again as head coach for India's tour to South Africa. 

On his contract extension, Rahul Dravid said, "The last two years with Team India have been thoroughly memorable. Together, we have witnessed the highs and lows, and throughout this journey, the support and camaraderie within the group have been phenomenal. I am genuinely proud of the culture we have set in the dressing room. It's a culture that stands resilient, whether in moments of triumph or adversity. The skills and talent that our team possesses are phenomenal, and what we've stressed is following the right process and sticking to our preparations, which has had a direct impact on the overall result.“

Dravid also thanked BCCI for placing its trust in him, for endorsing his vision, and for providing support during that period.

BCCI President Roger Binny said, "Mr. Rahul Dravid’s vision, professionalism, and unyielding efforts have been important pillars in Team India’s success. As Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team, you are always under immense scrutiny, and I extend appreciation to him not only for embracing the challenges but for thriving in them. The performances of the Indian Team are a testament to his strategic guidance. I am delighted that he accepted the offer to remain the Head Coach, and it speaks of the mutual respect and shared vision between him and the BCCI. I have no doubt that under him, the team will continue its march to the pinnacle of success and set new benchmarks along the way."
 
BCCI's Honorary Secretary, Jay Shah, also commented on it, saying, “I had mentioned that there is no better person than Rahul Dravid to take over the role of Head Coach at the time of his appointment, and Mr. Dravid has proven himself again with his unparalleled commitment to excellence. Team India is now a formidable unit across formats, and our top ranking in all three formats directly reflects his vision, guidance, and the roadmap he charted for the team. Having won 10 consecutive games before the final, our World Cup campaign was nothing short of extraordinary, and the Head Coach deserves appreciation for setting up the right platform for the team to flourish. The Head Coach has our full backing, and we will provide him with all the support needed for sustained success at the international level.”

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