The challenges India head coach Rahul Dravid needs to overcome
As Rahul Dravid takes over as the head coach of the Indian national cricket team, he will inherit a team that has almost everything going for itself. It has the experience of some senior players who stand second to none when compared with the rest of the world. It also has a brilliant group of young players, most of whom have been trained under Dravid. There is a lot that makes this team a world-beater, but there is baggage that the former legend has to take in.
Overcoming ICC Trophy voodoo
Despite being successful in bilateral series across formats all over the world, Dravid inherits a team which have raised hopes in terms of quality within the group but have failed to grab a trophy. If the losses at the Champions Trophy, World Cup and World Test Championship hurt, the wounds were only left open to be exposed after the T20 World Cup. Dravid hence inherits a team that comes to him with a bit of baggage.
#TeamIndia T20I captain @ImRo45 and Head Coach Rahul Dravid are all set for their new roles. 👍 👍
How excited are you to witness the start of a new partnership? 🤜🤛#INDvNZ @Paytm pic.twitter.com/9noTSR1K4A
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 17, 2021
The biggest challenge which he would face will be to maintain his team structure leading into the T20 World Cup 2022 and the 50 overs World Cup in 2023 at home. Outgoing head coach Ravi Shastri talked about how the bio-bubble and continuous cricket made the players tired when they entered the World Cup in the UAE. To maintain, rest and rotate every player would be a key aspect.
Other challenges
Additionally, it should be noted that the Indian team has some issues which need to be addressed. The balance of the white-ball team and the all-rounder to do that has to be sorted by the management as soon as possible. The regular changes in the batting order has to stop, else a disaster which happened at the recent World Cup is bound to happen again.
Lastly, the importance of sticking to some core group of players and building a team around them. This also involves identifying the different roles for different individuals, clarifying it to them and then leading them onto the pitch. There has to be attention which needs to be given to the development of young players within this team, with the seniors stepping aside from time to time.
On top of that, there is a conundrum around Virat Kohli’s ODI captaincy, which will come to see the light of day in the next few months. Before it turns ugly and spoils the dressing room, it would be of utmost importance for Dravid to step in and make sure things are okay. There wouldn’t be another situation like Anil Kumble’s but it remains to be seen how the Wall deals with the players and what legacy he leaves behind for this team and himself.
