Mumbai: Legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar had suggested a younger guy like Rahul Dravid to take up the challenging job of coaching the Indian cricket team but Dravid humbly declined the suggestion for now citing time constraints. “I am happy that he (Gavaskar) said I am capable of doing the job. But the job requires a lot of time, almost 11 months a year. I have just retired and at the moment because of time constraints, I have to decline,” said Dravid at a promotional event here on Friday.
“I am going to perform a different role (mentor) for Rajasthan Royals this year in IPL. Who knows what lies in store in the future but at the moment, I would say ‘no,” said the 41 year old former batsman who amassed over 24,000 runs from 164 Tests and 344 ODIs before retiring last year from all forms of cricket. Dravid though is open to work with the junior Indian team if he gets time. “Time permitting I would love to work with the India under 19s or the India A team but the India coaching job is not possible in the moment and definitely not in the near future either,” he said.
Dravid expected the Cricket Board to continue with the current support staff at least till the end of the next World Cup in March 2015. “With the World Cup less than a year away I don’t think there would be any changes in the support staff of the team. We have two big tours of England and Australia coming up and the World Cup after that as well. If there will be a review, it will probably be after the World Cup.,” said Dravid. With voices growing for the appointment of an Indian coach after having foreign coaches for more than 12 years, Dravid said a coach should be picked regardless of the nationality.
“I think they should just pick the best man for the job, regardless of his nationality. If he happens to be Indian then so be it. Sometimes the role of coach is overrated and overstated. I think sometimes you can go overboard but the responsibility should always lie with the senior players. At the end of the day, it is their team,” Dravid said.
