The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to open applications for a new head coach's role, as announced by Secretary Jay Shah in Mumbai.
This development comes as the current tenure of head coach Rahul Dravid is scheduled to conclude in June. "We will call for applications in the next few days. Rahul Dravid’s tenure is coming to an end in June. If he wants to reapply, he can," stated Shah during the announcement.
In preparation for the transition, the BCCI is considering all possibilities, including the potential appointment of a foreign coach, although the final decision will be made by the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC).
Shah emphasized the global perspective of the board, saying, "We cannot determine whether the new coach will be Indian or foreign. It will be up to the CAC, and we are a global body." This approach signifies the BCCI's openness to diverse coaching talents, irrespective of nationality.
The selection of additional coaching staff such as batting, bowling, and fielding coaches will be determined in consultation with the newly appointed head coach.
Furthermore, Shah clarified the BCCI's stance on not dividing coaching responsibilities across different formats, a method currently employed by other cricket boards such as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). "There is no precedent of different coaches for different formats in Indian cricket. Besides, we have a number of all-format players. Ultimately, it will be the Cricket Advisory Committee’s (CAC’s) call. There are many all-format players, like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Rishabh Pant among others," he explained.
Regarding the new coach's tenure, Shah confirmed that the position would be a long-term appointment, with an initial period of three years. This duration underscores the BCCI's commitment to stability and long-term planning in team management.
Shah also discussed the continuation of the Impact Player rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL), noting that it would be evaluated after further discussions with team captains and coaches. The rule, which allows an extra two Indian players to be part of an IPL team’s playing XI, has been a subject of debate. "Impact player was a test case. 2 new Indian players are getting a chance in the IPL," Shah remarked, indicating a positive outlook towards the rule’s impact on player opportunities.
In closing, Shah touched on the importance of domestic cricket, stating that the decision to increase remuneration for domestic players would be left to the respective state associations. He also noted that Hardik Pandya, recently placed in Grade A of the Central Contracts, has committed to participating in domestic white-ball cricket.