Colombo: Team India’s former head coach Rahul Dravid is likely to return to the Rajasthan Royals as their head coach, TOI has learnt.
“Talks are going on between RR and Dravid, and an announcement in this regard is round the corner,” a reliable source told TOI.
Dravid, 51, has a long history with the Rajasthan Royals. He was their captain, leading the team to the Champions League T20 final and IPL playoffs in 2013. Following his playing stint, he took on the mentor’s role in 2014 and 2015, where he significantly contributed to the team finishing third in the IPL.
Dravid’s Coaching Journey
From 2015 onwards, Dravid was associated with the BCCI as the head coach of the India U-19 and India ‘A’ teams. His tenure was marked by developing young talents and grooming future stars for Indian cricket. He then served as the chairman at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), focusing on the structural development of Indian cricket.
In October 2021, Dravid took over as the head coach of the senior Indian team, a role he held with distinction, emphasizing discipline and a strong work ethic among players.
Uncertain Future for Sangakkara
With Dravid’s potential return, there are questions about the future of Kumar Sangakkara, who has been the Royals’ director of cricket since 2021. It is yet to be determined whether the franchise will retain Sangakkara or make changes to accommodate Dravid’s role. Sangakkara’s contributions have been significant, but the dynamics might shift with Dravid’s arrival.
Bharucha Oversees SL Camp
Meanwhile, in Colombo, Sri Lanka is utilizing the expertise of an Indian coach to prepare for their white-ball series against India.
Zubin Bharucha, the high-performance director of the Royals, is conducting a week-long ‘batting master class’ for Sri Lanka’s players, which concludes on Tuesday. Bharucha is renowned for his rigorous training methods for batsmen, which have played a crucial role in the development of players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel.
“I’m assisting Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) coaches in setting up practice sessions from the academy to the international players,” Bharucha told TOI on Monday. His role involves enhancing the technical and tactical aspects of the players’ game, ensuring they are well-prepared for international competition.
Sangakkara’s Influence
According to a source, it was Sangakkara who recommended Bharucha for this special training session. Sangakkara’s insight into the strengths of Bharucha’s coaching methods underscores the collaborative efforts to improve Sri Lankan cricket.
Bharucha’s involvement highlights the increasing trend of cross-border coaching collaborations in cricket, aiming to raise the overall standard of the game by sharing expertise and best practices.(online casino real money)