The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) will consider extending head coach Rahul Dravid’s contract after the conclusion of India’s upcoming series in South Africa. Dravid’s initial tenure concluded at the end of the ODI World Cup 2023, but the BCCI recently extended it until the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies in June.
BCCI Secretary Jay Shah explained the abrupt extension of Dravid’s contract, citing the lack of time to appoint an interim coach quickly. The board will subsequently determine the duration of Dravid’s tenure after the team returns from South Africa in January 2024.
“We did not have time. We met with them and mutually agreed that he can continue. Once they return from South Africa, we will sit with him and decide on the tenure,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
Shah additionally mentioned that captain Rohit Sharma’s participation in the T20 World Cup 2024 remains undecided. A decision on this matter will be made after the Afghanistan series in January and the IPL 2024.
Shah provided an update on Hardik Pandya’s fitness, stating that his condition is being assessed daily, and there is a possibility of him regaining fitness before the Afghanistan series.
Hardik Pandya has the potential to recover and become fit before the Afghanistan series: Shah
“The tournament (Twenty20 World Cup) starts in June. There’s the IPL before that and the series against Afghanistan. We will take a good decision. He (Hardik) is being monitored on a day-to-day basis. He’s at the NCA. He’s working hard. We will let you know in due course. He can be fit even before the Afghanistan series,” he revealed.
Pandya has been sidelined since the ODI World Cup 2023, where he injured his ankle while attempting to prevent a boundary during India’s match against Bangladesh on October 19 in Pune.
Shah provided an update on Mohammed Shami’s fitness, expressing confidence in his recovery for the Test series against South Africa starting on December 26. Despite an ankle injury since the ODI World Cup 2023, Shami emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 24 wickets.
“Shami should be ready for the South Africa series. He is not at the NCA yet but will go there soon. We are confident he will recover in time,” said Shah.
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