Dravid to bow out as India coach after T20 World Cup

Rahul Dravid

 Dravid to Step Down as India Coach After T20 World Cup

Rahul Dravid announced on Monday that he will step down as India’s head coach following the T20 World Cup, ending his tenure of almost three years. Dravid’s contract with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) expires at the end of the month, and he confirmed he would not re-apply for the position.

Dravid, 51, spoke to reporters ahead of India’s opening match against Ireland in New York, stating, "It is going to be the last one that I am in charge of. Unfortunately, the kind of schedules and where I find myself at this stage in my life, I don't think I'll be able to re-apply. I love doing the job. I've really enjoyed coaching India and I think it's a truly special job to do."

Taking over from Ravi Shastri after the 2021 T20 World Cup, Dravid has had a notable stint as coach. His tenure saw India reach the finals of both the World Test Championship and their home 50-over World Cup last year, though they were defeated by Australia on both occasions. Dravid's departure marks his last opportunity to secure a global trophy for India, a feat that has eluded the team since the 2013 Champions Trophy.

Reflecting on his time with the team, Dravid expressed satisfaction despite the near misses. "I enjoyed working with this team and it's a great bunch of boys to work with," he said. "To be very honest, I think we've actually played really well in these tournaments. The World Test Championship is slightly different in terms of it's not one tournament but a whole cycle, but playing extremely well in the cycle to get to the final there again. The 50-over World Cup we had a great run and went into the final. I think we've been right up there with some of the best teams."

India’s T20 World Cup campaign begins with a match against Ireland in New York on Wednesday. They will then face Pakistan on June 9 and tournament hosts USA three days later, before concluding their group fixtures against Canada in Lauderhill, Florida, on June 15. This year's tournament, co-hosted by the United States and West Indies, is a crucial opportunity for Dravid to cap his coaching stint with a victory and end India's T20 World Cup drought, which dates back to the tournament’s inaugural edition in 2007. 

As India prepares for these crucial matches, the team and its supporters will be keen to give Dravid a fitting farewell, hoping to bring home the T20 World Cup and break the long-standing dry spell in global tournaments.