Former India batsman and two-time World Cup winner, Gautam Gambhir is happy with Rahul Dravid continuing in his role as the India head coach for at least until next year’s T20 World Cup.
On Wednesday, the BCCI announced that Dravid will continue as the Indian men’s team’s head coach across formats. Along with Dravid, the contracts of his support staff and assistant coaches – Vikram Rathour (batting coach), Paras Mhambrey (bowling coach), and T Dilip (fielding coach). – have also been extended.
The first contract of Dravid, who joined as coach in November 2021, expired at the end of the World Cup 2023, which India lost in the final. There were reports of VVS Laxman being touted to take over from Dravid, who reportedly wanted to spend more time with his family.
But the BCCI offered him an extension to which Rahul Dravid accepted very recently after deliberating on it over the past few days.
Gautam Gambhir was pleased to learn about the contract extension of Dravid. He referenced to Rahul Dravid being the head coach for the past two years, pointing out that with the T20 World Cup only 7 months away, and India having only two more T20I series until March, Gambhir reckons it was the best decision to continue with Dravid and his support staff.
Gautam Gambhir told ANI: “It’s a good thing because the T20 World Cup is around the corner – 7 months away – and you don’t want to change the entire support staff, and it is good that Rahul has accepted it. Hopefully, we can continue to dominate and play good cricket, and what India has done for quite a long period of time. T20 format is a different format. It’s a more challenging format.”
Watch it here: Gautam Gambhir reacts to the news of Rahul Dravid getting contract extension
#WATCH | On extension for Rahul Dravid as head coach of Team India, former cricketer Gautam Gambhir says,” It’s a good thing because the T20 World Cup is around the corner and you don’t want to change the entire support staff, and it is good that Rahul has accepted it..… pic.twitter.com/R3DAcpOJNg
— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2023
India failed in three ICC knockouts under Dravid over the past year, and also lost the Test series in South Africa. But, it should be noted, that Rahul Dravid rarely had all players fit and available to choose from. Jasprit Bumrah, in particular, was missing from the T20 World Cup last year and the WTC Final. Jadeja, too, missed the T20 World Cup, while Pant missed the WTC Final and the World Cup. Hardik Pandya missed the World Cup final.
India’s 10-match winning streak in the World Cup 2023 was one of the most dominating and memorable streaks in Indian cricket.
