The BCCI engaged in discussions with Dravid after the term of his contract ended following the World Cup 2023 and unanimously agreed to further the tenure.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), on Wednesday, announced the extension of contracts for Head Coach Rahul Dravid, and the support staff for Team India. While they did not specify the duration of the extension, it will reportedly be at least until the 2024 T20 World Cup in June.
Dravid was appointed India’s head coach after the T20 World Cup 2021. While India rose to the top of the Test, ODI and T20I rankings under Dravid as coach, they could not win any ICC trophies – finishing as semi-finalists in the 2022 T20 World Cup, and runners-up in the 2023 World Test Championship and the 2023 ODI World Cup. India’s campaign in the ODI World Cup was fabulous – they won all nine league games and the semi-final, before losing the final to Australia.
BCCI also lauded VVS Laxman for his role as the head of the National Cricket Academy and the stand-in coach. “Similar to their legendary on-field partnerships, Mr. Dravid and Mr. Laxman have worked closely in driving Indian Cricket forward,” said the BCCI in a statement.
Mr. Roger Binny, President of the BCCI, praised Rahul Dravid’s unwavering commitment to elevating India’s cricketing prowess in all formats. He expressed confidence in Dravid’s ability to lead the team to continued success, stating, “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.”
Rahul Dravid expressed gratitude to the BCCI and the office bearers for backing him. He lauded his family’s support and sacrifices as the role demands “considerable time away from home”. He further said that the last two years have been thoroughly memorable, and the camaraderie within the group has 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,” said Dravid.