Former India captain Rahul Dravid is all set to coach Indian cricket team for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour. In the absence of Ravi Shastri, India’s head coach the NCA director is likely to be bestowed with the responsibility.
Dravid to coach India
Ravi Shastri will be staying with the Indian Test squad in the United Kingdom for the World Test Championship where India will be facing New Zealand followed by the five-Test series against England. Therefore, Dravid will be taking charge of the coaching role for the Indian side flying to Sri Lanka in July. Former India A and Under-19 coach is likely to be with the limited-overs Indian squad in Sri Lanka for the three ODI and as many as T20Is in Sri Lanka in July between 13 and 27, stated a report in ESPNCricinfo.
The squad is yet to be announced but, in all likelihood, a second string Indian team will be in the island country as a bunch of senior players will be in England. “The Team India coaching staff will be in the UK and it is best that the young team is guided by Dravid as he has already worked with almost all of the India ‘A’ boys. The comfort the youngsters share with him will be an added advantage,” news agency ANI quoted a BCCI official as saying.
Dravid’s assistant from NCA
The report also suggested names of members of the NCA – including Paras Mhambrey as the bowling coach for the tour. Like Dravid, Mhambrey has also been in charge of the India A and Under 19 teams as their bowling coach. The main bowling coach Bharat Arun, batting coach Vikram Rathour and fielding coach R Sridhar will be also involved in Sri Lanka.
The proposed tour is scheduled to begin on July 13, with the next two ODIs happening on 16 and 19, followed by the T20Is on July 22, 24 and 27. Dravid previously worked with the team as its batting consultant during India’s tour of England in 2014.
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