The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has recently released a notification for the role of head coach in the senior men’s Indian team. The post will be vacant after the completion of the extended tenure of incumbent Rahul Dravid, who is set to be relieved from his duties after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Notably, Rahul Dravid was convinced to take up the head coach duties in Team India after the completion of Ravi Shastri’s tenure in 2021. Dravid led India to the final of the ICC World Test Championship 2023 along with the lucrative ODI World Cup in 2023, besides leading the team to top positions in all three formats of the game.
Dravid’s tenure was completed after the ODI World Cup 2023, where Team India lost in the finals to Australia, however, keeping in mind the impending ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, the BCCI extended his contract for a year. This time, Dravid hasn’t asked for any extension and conveyed the same to the BCCI, hence the post will be vacant.
The term of office for the new head coach is specified for three and a half years by the BCCI, which will begin on July 1, 2024. The roles and responsibilities include developing a “world-class” team across all formats for sustained success. He will also be leading the specialist team of coaches and support staff, who will assist the team.
Being Team India’s head coach is a rigorous task as it involves being on the road for approximately 10 months a year. The only substantial leave a head coach gets is during the IPL window, which is two months.
Salary And Perks of Team India’s Head Coach
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), being the richest cricket board in the world, pays a handsome cheque to all the individuals involved. The salaries of the coaches can be as high as INR 10 Crore per annum. The cricket board in its advertisement stated that the salary will be “negotiable and will be commensurate with experience,” which means that it can go higher than this.
Some reports have indicated that Team India’s current head coach, Rahul Dravid, draws a handsome pay of INR 12 Crores per annum from the BCCI.
The other perks of being Team India’s head coach include business class travel to each and every destination the team goes to play cricket. The players, coaches and support staff are arranged the best possible luxury travel in the business class. The individuals get accommodation in the best hotels present in the vicinity, wherever they go.
In addition to this, the BCCI also aids the contracted person in case of any family emergency. The board has often assisted the players and coaches with charter flights and extended any possible help at their disposal in case of any emergency situation.
Eligibility Criteria for India’s Head Coach
- Candidates must have significant cricket experience, such as:
- Playing in a minimum of 30 Test matches or 50 ODIs, or
- Coaching a full member Test-Playing Nation for at least two years.
- Alternatively, three years of experience as a head coach for an Associate member, IPL team, or equivalent is acceptable. Candidates must also hold a BCCI Level 3 Certification or equivalent and be below 60 years of age
