BCCI To Discuss Long-Term Contract Extension With Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid (Twitter)
BCCI top-brass has indicated head coach Rahul Dravid could be awarded a long-term extension at the helm of affairs for Team India after the recent call to retain the former India skipper in his role despite the ICC World Cup 2023 final setback.
Dravid's initial two-year term ended with the quadrennial event on November 19. However, with the next ICC event - the 2024 T20 World Cup in June - looming large in the picture, the board gave the India legend and his support staff a short-term extension in their roles.
It is understood, though, the BCCI could now offer Dravid the chance to continue in his role beyond the biannual T20I competition in the Caribbean & USA for greater continuity and stability within the team and decision-making.
Dravid To Earn Long-Term Coaching Extension?
BCCI secretary Jay Shah confirmed the board's apex council will be sitting with Dravid after the completion of the trip to South Africa in January to decide his long-term fate in the role.
"We did not have time. We met with them and mutually agreed that he can continue. Once they return from South Africa, we will sit with him and decide on the tenure," Shah told the press during a media interaction on Saturday (December 9).
Shah hinted the BCCI didn't have time to ponder over Dravid's future immediately after the World Cup, having invested all energies towards organising the tournament, and thus decided to give him a short-term extension with the T20 World Cup in mind.
With a month left before the final Test in South Africa ends, the apex council will sit down with Dravid and possibly chief selector Ajit Agarkar and skipper Rohit Sharma to determine the future course of action.
Notably, in their statement announcing Dravid's continuation in the role, the BCCI had expressed gratitude to the legend for his services and backed him to guide the Men in Blue astutely as they stay intact in search of an elusive ICC title.
 "Kashish Chadha")
