India coach Rahul Dravid.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

The appointment process for the head coach of India’s men’s cricket team is set to begin in the coming week. Jay Shah, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, confirmed incumbent Rahul Dravid can reapply if he wants his tenure extended.

“We will call for applications in the next few days. Rahul Dravid’s tenure is coming to an end in June. If he wants to reapply, he can,” Shah said during an interaction at the BCCI headquarters.

Dravid, who took over in November 2021, was handed a short-term extension till the T20 World Cup after his two-year contract expired at the end of India’s loss in the final of the ODI World Cup last November. Shah confirmed the new head coach will be offered to take
charge till the ODI World Cup in 2027.

Contrary to the recent trend in international cricket of having separate head coaches for limited overs’ formats and Test cricket, the BCCI is unlikely to opt for a split coaching role.

“We are looking for a long-term coach, for three years,” Shah said. “There is no precedent of different coaches for different formats in Indian cricket. Besides, we have a number of all-format players. Ultimately, it will be the Cricket Advisory Committee’s (CAC’s) call. I have to implement what they decide. If the CAC selects a foreign coach, I can’t interfere.”

Even before the head coach applications are invited, the three-member CAC— headed by former batter Ashok Malhotra and including Jatin Paranjape and Sulakshana Naik— will have to finalise the prolonged appointment of a national selector.

“A few interviews for the selector’s post have already happened. The CAC will meet in a week’s time to finalise the name and we will announce it soon,” Shah said.

The BCCI in January had advertised for a national selector’s post in order to revert to the convention of each of the five zones represented in the selection panel. For more than a year, the north zone has not been represented in the selection panel whereas the west zone has two members in the panel since last July.

As a result, Salil Ankola is set to make way for a new appointee. The Hindu understands that domestic stalwart Mithun Manhas and Nikhil Chopra, the former India offspinner, are main contenders to join the Ajit Agarkar-chaired panel.

Shah stated that the uproar over the Impact Player rule in the Indian Premier League, introduced since the 2023 edition, will be discussed with various stakeholders after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup in June. “The Impact Player rule was brought in as a test case. On the bright side, it is providing additional playing opportunities to two more Indian players in every match,” Shah said.

“We will consult with the franchise captains, players, franchises and broadcasters and then decide about the future course. It’s not a permanent rule nor am I saying we will move past it.”

Shah is widely believed to be the prime contender to replace Greg Barclay as the International Cricket Council (ICC) chair later this year. Shah shrugged the query aside, “Let there be speculation. Let me be here (in the BCCI). Am I not doing a good job (as BCCI secretary)?” he concluded.

Delhi Capitals’ Axar Patel.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Axar Patel, who is a very capable batter besides being a quality left-arm spinner, feels the “all-rounder’s role is in danger” because of the ‘Impact Player’ rule, making him the latest cricketer to give a thumbs down to the IPL innovation that has polarised opinions.

Promoted to No.3, Axar made a counter-attacking 43-ball 66 and along with skipper Rishabh Pant, lifted Delhi Capitals from 44/3 to 224/4 in their Indian Premier League match against Gujarat Titans here on Wednesday.

Later, he picked up one wicket as DC successfully defended their total to win by four runs.

Sharing his thoughts on the Impact Player rule, Axar said, “As an all-rounder, I feel that an all-rounder’s role is in danger with the Impact Player rule. Every team is looking to play either a pure batter or a pure bowler as the Impact Player, and the all-rounders are not being used.” “With the Impact Player, every team goes into the match thinking they have six batters or bowlers, depending on if they are batting or bowing. This also creates a lot of confusion sometimes,” Axar told ‘JioCinema’.

The rule has also been criticised by the likes of Indian captain Rohit Sharma and several former players as well.

Introduced in 2023, the ‘Impact Player’ rule allows teams to substitute players during innings, sparking debate and scrutiny in the current season.

Axar, who sees himself as an all-rounder, had earlier said that because of the rule, the value of an all-rounder has gone down.

Thanks to Axar and Pant’s brisk 113-run association, DC put up a total that helped them register their season’s fourth win.

“I didn’t know beforehand that I would bat at No. 3. When our batting came, they told me that they were thinking I should go at No. 3 because three spinners were playing. First, they asked Rishabh and then we discussed, and I said that I’ll go.

“Rishabh also wanted to go, but then I told him that they’ll use spinners later as well, and he should go at No. 4 because he can handle the middle-overs,” Axar said.

On his bowling, Axar said, “I am not doing anything new. I am just adding variations to the pace. I wasn’t confident about bowling my slow ball earlier, but I have found that confidence regardless of the batter being right or left-handed.

“The pace variations are making a big difference now. With the high-scoring games we’re seeing, it’s important to have the right attitude.”