With immediate effect, Rahul Dravid’s tenure as India’s head coach has been extended to the end of the Twenty20 World Cup. He will travel to South Africa with the Twenty20 squad, leaving as early as December 5.
The length of the extension has been confirmed by sources who have been privy to Dravid’s discussions with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the last several days. Dravid has been notified that following the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the US, his contract would be reviewed.
June 3 is when the T20 World Cup is supposed to start, and it ends on June 30. As such, Dravid’s extended contract will expire at the end of June. For the time being, other support staff workers should be covered by similar provisions.
From the BCCI’s point of view, the extension was always certain, especially after India’s impressive World Cup performance, in which they displayed a unique style of cricket. The main priority was to secure Dravid’s approval.
It is well known that Dravid needed considerable persuasion to change his mind about coaching. Although Dravid would not agree to an extension after the Twenty20 World Cup, his support staff members might be given another chance. For the time being, the BCCI has bought some time in this situation.