VVS Laxman set to replace Rahul Dravid as new head coach of Team India, Reports

According to sources, former India batter and NCA head coach VVS Laxman is set to become the full-time head coach of Team India. Notably, the current head coach, Rahul Dravid, has not expressed his interest in extending his contract as the future head coach after the ODI World Cup 2023 final. Notably, the former India skipper was appointed head coach in 2021 when Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli stepped down as coach and skipper, respectively.

Rahul Dravid has guided Team India to the semi-finals of the 2022 T20 World Cup, while they failed to reach the finals during the Asia Cup 2022. However, the former batting legend has guided the win in the Asia Cup 2023 and the ODI World Cup 2023 finals. Moreover, the Men in Blue have maintained the top positions in all three forms of rankings under his coaching assistance.

VVS Laxman, on the other hand, has been reported to be in talks to be appointed for the position of a full-time coach. Notably, the former India cricketer is currently with Team India as an interim coach for the Australia series. However, the former top-order batter will take full-time as a head coach for the South Africa tour. Meanwhile, Rahul Dravid will take on the role of heading the NCA and manage the IPL contract for two years.

VVS Laxman has expressed his keenness for the job: Reports

“Laxman has expressed his keenness for the job. During the World Cup, Laxman travelled to Ahmedabad to meet the BCCI’s top bosses in this regard. He’s likely to sign a long-time contract as the Team India coach, and will certainly travel with the team in that capacity for the upcoming tour of South Africa, which will be his first as a full-time India head coach,” a reliable source in the Indian Cricket Board told TOI.

“Dravid has communicated to the BCCI that he isn’t keen to continue as a full-time coach. For close to 20 years, he has travelled with the India team as a player, and for the past couple of years he under went the same grind, which he doesn’t want to undergo any longer. He’s fine with a role at the NCA as the head there (a role he previously served in), which will allow him to stay back in his hometown Bengaluru,” the source said.

Another source told TOI that the Dravid was already considering his future options. “He’s in talks with an IPL team for a big two-year contract,” the source revealed.