Rahul Dravid may return to IPL as Team India head coach unlikely to sign new deal

Head coach Rahul Dravid's contribution to Team India's remarkable ODI World Cup campaign in 2023 has been immense. Ahead of the final, captain Rohit Sharma told in a press conference that Dravid had created unity in the team and given individual roles to all the players. Unfortunately, the Men in Blue's dominant campaign came to an abrupt end, losing their only match of the tournament - the final against Australia.

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Following the culmination of the 2023 World Cup, Dravid's two-year contract with the Indian Cricket Team came to an end. Recent reports suggest that the former India captain is unlikely to extend his contract as he does not want to travel much, thanks to their busy schedule. The 50-year-old wants to spend as much time as possible with his family.

In that case, former India cricketer VVS Laxman, who was the interim coach of the Indian team in Dravid's absence, is likely to take over the affairs. Meanwhile, Dravid is reportedly ready to take up either the National Cricket Academy head or the role of IPL coach. With IPL being played for only two months, he can spend the rest of the time with his family. 

“Dravid has communicated to the Indian Cricket Board that he isn’t keen to continue as a full-time coach. For close to 20 years, he has traveled with the Indian team as a player, and for the past couple of years, he again went through the same grind, which he doesn’t want to undergo. 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. Like earlier, he’s fine with coaching the team sporadically, but not again as a full-time coach,” a source close to the development said.

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DC targeting Dravid?

The source revealed that Dravid is in talks with an Indian Premier League team for a "big two-year contract". However, there has been no official statement as of now on which teams are vying to partner Dravid. Among the 10 franchises, Delhi Capitals are currently without a coach after Ricky Ponting announced his decision to step down as head coach. 

Ponting is not interested in continuing the role after his team's dismal campaign in the 2023 IPL, finishing second last on the points table. According to reports, Rajasthan Royals are also looking for a replacement for Kumar Sangakkara. 

Dravid was appointed as Team India's head coach after Ravi Shastri's exit in 2021. Under the partnership of Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma, the Men in Blue reached the semi-finals of the 2022 T20 World Cup, the finals of the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) and the 2023 ODI World Cup.