As per the board’s procedure, Dravid will have to reapply if he is willing to continue before the cut-off date of August 15. Otherwise, the board will look at other options for vacant NCA position.
The NCA head’s job is a wholesome one. It requires a candidate to develop all coaching programmes at the state-of-the-art facility in Bangalore and look after the development of emerging and youth cricketers at the NCA and India’ A’, U-19s and other age-group teams.
The NCA head also works in cohesion with the men’s and women’s team captains and coaches. The main aim is to keep the talent pipeline strong and throw up adequate options to the respective team management and the selection committees.
The qualification criteria for the post makes it necessary for the candidate to have played at least 25 Tests for India. He must have coached for a minimum of five years in the international arena or at a level below with the ‘A’, U-19, the women or an IPL side. Importantly, the candidate must be below the age of 60.
There is a great interest around Dravid since he went as an interim coach to Sri Lanka last month with an alternative India white-ball squad. Many find Dravid an ideal candidate for becoming a full-time member of India’s support staff, as he has had an impressive body of work as a coach since his retirement.
Before being elevated to the NCA post, Dravid was the coach of the India ‘A’ and U-19 sides. He has been a pivotal figure behind the development of India’s unprecedented talent depth in the last five years.
If Dravid does reapply for the NCA head’s role, it will end the speculation – at least for the time being – of him eyeing the national team’s head coach role, with the tenure of Ravi Shastri (who is aged 59) coming to an end with this year’s T20 World Cup.
