Rahul Dravid turned down opportunity to be India’s head coach – CoA chief Vinod Rai

 

The chairman of the Committee of Administrators, Vinod Rai has revealed the former Indian skipper Rahul Dravid turned the opportunity to be India’s head coach. CoA had approached Dravid after Anil Kumble had relinquished his duties as the chief coach of the team. Kumble had stated that his relationship with Indian captain Virat Kohli was ‘untenable’ in 2017.

However, Dravid was not ready to take up the role as he wanted to spend more time with his family. Dravid was also serving as the chief coach of the India’s Under-19 and India A team back then. Furthermore, Virat Kohli wanted Ravi Shastri to be the new coach of the team, as he shares a great bonhomie with the current coach.

In fact, many of the cricket boffins felt that Dravid would have been the ideal coach for the Indian team as he had already done a fine job in grooming the next generation of cricketers. However, Dravid quietly left the coveted role in Indian cricket as he wanted to spend more time with his two sons.

Dravid had already prepared a road map for the Under-19 and India A team and he was able to get the best out of the young players. The former skipper was able to guide the youngsters on the right path and the players grew in confidence after playing under his tutelage.

“Rahul was very upfront with us,” Rai told SportsKeeda. He said, ‘look I have two boys growing up at home and I have been travelling with the Indian team all over the world and I am not able to give time and attention to them, I think I must stay at home also. And give time to my family.’ I think that was a very fair request and though he would have been uppermost in mind. So, he was very much in the zone of consideration.”

Subsequently, Dravid was handed over the role to be the chairman of the National Cricket Academy and he was happy to accept the role. The former Indian captain, who served the Indian team for a long time, is once again helping the youngsters grow in stature.

Dravid has all the experience as a player and he has gone through the ups and downs. Ergo, he understands the players’ situations and helps them accordingly. Dravid has played a major role in grooming the next generation of Indian players and he would like to continue the same show going.