Head coach of the Indian cricket team, Ravi Shastri has already announced that he will not extend his tenure after the end of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup. Obviously questions about his successor have surfaced. Initially, the BCCI had backed former India skipper Rahul Dravid to succeed Shastri. However, Dravid has expressed his desire to continue as the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
In fact a couple of weeks back, the BCCI had sought applications for the post of Head, NCA as Dravid’s present tenure is set to end. Much to its chagrin, the BCCI had only applicant – Rahul Dravid. It brought to light Dravid’s desire to stay at the NCA and not at the helm of the Indian cricket team.
In these circumstances, four names are doing the rounds to succeed Shastri. Orissa POST takes a look at the credentials of the four who may take up Shastri’s position.
Vikram Rathour
Currently Rathour is the batting coach of the Indian team. So he is well aware of the desires and needs of the cricketers… especially the stars. It should be stated here that opinions of people like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and a few others will matter in the final selection of the coach. Also there is the question of how a lightweight like Rathour will able to manage stars like Kohli, Rohit, Bumraj, Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant. So there is always going to be a question mark over his elevation.
Anil Kumble
Well he was the coach of the Indian team for a while before a difference of opinion with Kohli led to Kumble’s exit. The former India leg-spinner was appointed as head coach in 2016. However, he resigned within a year. So what are his chances this time around… will Kohli and Co accept him? If sources are to be believed, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly is keen to have Kumble back as coach. If necessary, Ganguly will try and mediate between Kohli and Kumble so that past bitterness is forgotten.
Virender Sehwag
The man is known not to mince his words. Sehwag also has the credentials to take up the job. Many in the BCCI feel that the appointment of Sehwag will bring in fresh ideas and take Indian cricket to new highs. Sehwag has been associated as a coach with Kings XI Punjab. So it is not that he lacks coaching experience. But then there is a heaven and hell difference between managing the Indian team and an IPL franchise.
Lalchand Rajput
The former India and Mumbai opener is considered to be a great thinker of the game. Rajput was the coach of the team that won the inaugural T20 World Cup under MS Dhoni. He has been the coach of Mumbai Indians and the Zimbabwe national team. Some top officials of the BCCI feel that Rajput has never got his dues as a coach. So this would be the right chance for him to showcase his skills.
Whoever may finally be chosen will have a job in his hands. It is never been easy to manage the Indian cricketers… many of them with egos bigger than gas balloons. More than honing cricket skills, the coach of any Indian team has to know the art of man management.
Probably Rajput has the most of this skill in him, but then one will have to wait and watch.
