The England Cricket Board (ECB) has been on the hunt for a new coach for quite some period of time since their 2022 T20 World Cup-winning coach Matthew Mott stepped down from coaching the English national team, after their humiliating losses in the World Cup 2023 and the semi-final loss in their title defence during the T20 World Cup 2024 in the United States.
On the other hand, former Indian veteran batter, Rahul Dravid stepped down from India’s head coach role as a national hero. He not only led India to a successful final in the World Cup 2023, where they entered undefeated before losing in the final to the Aussies.
Later in the T20 World Cup 2024, also under Gambhir and Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, India went into the finals undefeated despite a roller-coaster ride throughout the tournament. In the final as well, India pulled the match from nowhere, as he succeeded in leading them to an iconic victory for the second time since the inaugural T20 World Cup played in 2007.
Now, Gautam Gambhir has been placed for the Indian team as their head coach after Dravid stepped down. Dravid was initially linked with the Kolkata Knight Riders, as he was supposed to take the place of the mentor, which Gambhir had left vacant.
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However, some recent reports suggest that Rahul Dravid will take over as Rajasthan Royals’ head coach from the upcoming season of the IPL, as the former veteran, is about to return to his years old franchise.
The Lankan veteran, Kumara Sangakara, who is the World’s second-highest run-getter in the wide pool of international cricketers, had had the best of seasons with Rajasthan Royals. The Royals, who had never been the side that won the inaugural season in 2008, were revived with Sangakara’s coming.
Sangakara, built a formidable side, as he led them to successive playoffs, his first full season was in 2022, where they entered the finals and lost to Gujarat Titans while their latest legacy was in the Qualifier 2 loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024.
Reports also suggest that the Royals Director of Cricket position will be taken over by Dravid, and likely Kumara Sangakara is to be linked as England’s white-ball coach. Though nothing has been confirmed by either the Royals or the ECB, McCullum who remains England’s red-ball coach might find Sangakara as his colleague for the ECB, if reports are to be believed.