Rahul Dravid to Step Down as India Coach After T20 World Cup

Rahul Dravid announced on Monday that he will step down as India’s coach following the conclusion of the T20 World Cup, bringing an end to his nearly three-year tenure.

Dravid’s contract, which expires at the end of the month, will not be renewed. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been advertising for the position since last month.

“It will be my last tournament in charge,” the 51-year-old stated to reporters ahead of India’s opening match against Ireland in New York on Wednesday.

“Given the schedules and my current life stage, I won’t be able to re-apply. I’ve loved the job and thoroughly enjoyed coaching India—it’s a truly special role.” Dravid, a former India captain, succeeded Ravi Shastri after the 2021 T20 World Cup.

This T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States and West Indies, marks Dravid’s final opportunity to break India’s global trophy drought, which has persisted since the 2013 Champions Trophy.

During his tenure, Dravid led India to the finals of the World Test Championship and their home 50-over World Cup last year, although they fell short against Australia on both occasions.

“I enjoyed working with this team; it’s a fantastic group,” Dravid said. “We’ve played really well in these tournaments. The World Test Championship is unique, encompassing a whole cycle, and we performed extremely well to reach the final. In the 50-over World Cup, we had an excellent run to the final, competing closely with the best teams.”

India last won the T20 World Cup in its inaugural edition in 2007 and the one-day World Cup in 2011.

India’s group stage fixtures include matches against Pakistan on June 9 and the USA on June 12 in New York, followed by a game against Canada in Lauderhill, Florida, on June 15.