BCCI Eyes Overseas Coaches Stephen Fleming and Tom Moody as Rahul Dravid’s Successor

In Short

• BCCI has approached Stephen Fleming and Tom Moody for the head coach role
• The deadline to apply for head coach role is May 27 — a day after IPL final
• Rahul Dravid’s tenure as head coach will come to an end after the T20 World Cup in June

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is actively considering the prospect of appointing a foreign head coach for the senior men’s national cricket team, with former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming and ex-Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) coach Tom Moody emerging as prime candidates.

The move comes as the BCCI initiates the search for a new head coach, with the tenure of incumbent Rahul Dravid set to conclude after the upcoming T20 World Cup in June.

Sources reveal that discussions have been held with Stephen Fleming, currently serving as head coach for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and Tom Moody, who previously coached SRH, regarding the prestigious role in the Indian cricket setup.

The BCCI is reportedly keen on appointing Fleming as Dravid’s successor and awaits his formal application for the position.

The process of finding a new head coach commenced with the issuance of an advertisement by the BCCI on May 13, stipulating May 27 as the deadline for receiving applications.

While Rahul Dravid has the option to re-apply, indications suggest the board’s preference for a foreign coach. Dravid, who has overseen the team’s affairs since 2021, will step down after the T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in the USA and the West Indies.

Stephen Fleming, renowned for his successful tenure with CSK in the Indian Premier League (IPL), is expected to throw his hat in the ring before facing scrutiny from the board’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) during the interview process.

Moody, credited with guiding SRH to an IPL title in 2016, is also considered a strong contender for the role.

The BCCI’s openness to hiring a foreign coach marks a departure from previous apprehensions following past experiences, notably the fallout from Greg Chappell’s stint as head coach.

However, Gary Kirsten’s transformative impact as coach, culminating in India’s 2011 World Cup triumph, paved the way for reconsideration of overseas coaching appointments.

Kirsten’s recent appointment as head coach of the Pakistan national team underscores the global trend of cross-border coaching assignments.

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah reiterated the board’s global outlook, stating that the decision on the coach’s nationality would rest with the CAC.

The selected coach is slated to serve a tenure of 3.5 years, spanning from July 1, 2024, to December 2027, encompassing significant events such as the Champions Trophy in 2025 and the ODI World Cup in 2027.

Given the evolving demands of modern cricket, there is speculation about India adopting a split-coaching model to address the diverse skill sets required for white-ball and red-ball cricket formats.

Similar approaches have been embraced by teams like England and Pakistan, reflecting the growing complexity of coaching roles in international cricket.