India men's cricket team head coach Rahul Dravid confirmed that ICC T20 World Cup 2024 will be his last assignment. Dravid said that he won't apply for the position again citing his schedule.
"It is going to be the last one that I am in-charge of," Dravid said ahead of India's campaign opener against Ireland in New York. "Yeah, just considering, unfortunately, the kind of schedules and where I find myself at this stage in my life, I don't think I'll be able to re-apply. So yeah, obviously it'll be my last one. But having said that, it's (the significance of the tournament is) no different for me."
Dravid expressed that he has loved coaching the team. With Dravid at helm of things, India reached the T20 World Cup 2022 semifinal, World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23 final, won Asia Cup and played the ODI World Cup 2023 final.
"I love doing the job. I've really enjoyed coaching India and I think it's a truly special job to do, and I enjoyed working with this team and it's a great bunch of boys to work with," he further said.
India will start their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign against Ireland on June 5 at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York.
Gambhir to succeed Dravid?
Last week, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Gautam Gambhir broke silence on succeeding Dravid has India’s next head coach.
“I have not answered this question, although lot of people have asked me. But I have to answer you now. I would love to coach the Indian team. There is no bigger honor than coaching your national team. You are representing 140 Crore Indians and those across the globe as well,” Gambhir said at an event in Dubai.
Gambhir recently helped KKR win their third Indian Premier League (IPL) title. He revealed that the environment in the dressing room is a crucial factor.
“A secure dressing room is a happy dressing room, and happy dressing room ends up in a winning dressing room. The only thing I did in the KKR was following this mantra. With God’s grace it actually worked,” he said.
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