The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) initiated the process of inviting applications for the position of head coach of India’s Men’s Cricket Team. The board took this decision as the tenure of the current head coach Rahul Dravid is set to end with the conclusion of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
Meanwhile, a discussion on the potential contenders to fill in this role is also very intense in the Indian cricketing corridors; the former New Zealand skipper and current CSK coach Stephen Fleming has emerged as one of the frontrunners in this race to become the head coach of the Indian team.
The media reports have understood that the BCCI has reached out to Stephen Fleming for this new role, but there is still a cloud of uncertainty over the same the former Kiwi stalwart has also a very hectic schedule.
“The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering former New Zealand captain and current Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming as a potential successor to Rahul Dravid,” reads a report in The Indian Express.
“However, with the BCCI's condition that the new head coach will be in charge of all three formats, it remains to be seen whether Fleming applies for the job which will require him to be with the team for 10 months a year,” the report adds further.
Stephen Fleming’s sensational records with CSK in IPL advocate for his contention
Notably, Fleming has an amazing record as a coach in the history of the Indian Premier League since he took over the responsibility as head coach of CSK in 2009. The yellow outfits have won record-equalling 5 IPL titles under Fleming’s guidance, becoming the joint-most successful team in the history of the tournament, alongside the Mumbai Indians.
He is also known for bringing out the best of players and maintaining a healthy environment in the dressing room. If the reports get right on the spot and Fleming gets appointed as India’s head coach, he will be the second New Zealander to be the head coach of India after former India head coach John Wright who coached India when Sourav Ganguly was the captain of the team.