Indian cricket team head coach Rahul Dravid has revealed that he has not yet signed any papers regarding the length of his contract extension with Team India. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced the extension of contracts for Dravid and the support staff of Team India.
In an official statement, the BCCI stated that they engaged in productive discussions with Dravid after the conclusion of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and agreed to further his tenure. However, the statement did not mention the specific length of Dravid’s contract or that of the rest of the staff.
When asked about the length of his contract, Dravid explained, “It’s announced officially, I haven’t signed anything yet, let the papers come officially from the BCCI.”
The batting coach Vikram Rathour, fielding coach T Dilip, and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey will also continue their roles with Team India as their contracts have been extended by the BCCI.
Dravid’s second stint with Team India will begin with the tour of South Africa, which includes three ODIs and T20Is each, as well as two Tests, starting from December 10. The red-ball leg of the tour will commence on December 26.
Following the South Africa tour, Team India will play a five-match Test series against England at home, before participating in the ICC T20 World Cup in June, which will be held in either West Indies or the USA.
Dravid took over as head coach after Ravi Shastri following India’s disappointing campaign in the ICC T20 World Cup in 2021, where they were eliminated in the Super 12 stage. He was initially appointed for a two-year term, which concluded with India finishing as runners-up in the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup at home.
Expressing his thoughts on the contract extension, Dravid said, “The last two years with Team India have been thoroughly memorable. Together, we have witnessed the highs and lows, and throughout this journey, the support and camaraderie within the group have 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.”
Dravid also expressed his gratitude to the BCCI and the Office Bearers for trusting him and supporting his vision. He acknowledged the sacrifices and support of his family, as the demands of his role require considerable time away from home. He concluded by stating that Team India remains committed to the pursuit of excellence as they embrace new challenges following the World Cup.
(Note: This story has been published from a syndicated feed without any edits by NDTV staff, except for the headline.)
