BCCI sounds out CSK head coach Stephen Fleming to succeed Rahul Dravid

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. However, with the BCCI’s condition that the new head coach will be in charge for all three formats, it remains to be seen whether Fleming actually applies for the job which will require him to be with the team for 10 months a year.

The BCCI on Monday officially began the process to appoint a new head coach for the Indian men’s team post the T20 World Cup. According to highly-placed sources in the board, Fleming, who has been head coach of CSK since 2009, is seen as a suitable candidate to take over from Dravid. India is likely to enter a period of transition across all formats in the next few years and Fleming’s man-management skills, ability to bring the best out of players by creating a positive environment and his impressive success rate at CSK are believed to be a big draw.

The Indian Express understands that informal discussions have already taken place through the course of the IPL. As things stand, the 51-year-old hasn’t communicated with the CSK management about any wish to leave the franchise, who prefer him to extend his stay.

Since becoming head coach of CSK in 2009, Fleming has become a globe-trotting T20 coach. He coached Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash for four years. Apart from the Chennai-based franchise, he is also the head coach of Joburg Super Kings in SA20 and Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket – both of which are sister franchises of CSK. He is also the head coach of Southern Brave in The Hundred. The former Kiwi captain is likely to be a busy man this July with MLC and The Hundred running simultaneously for a week.

That the BCCI is looking at Fleming shouldn’t come as a surprise. Internally, there is plenty of admiration for Fleming, who is a central figure in CSK’s success story. Apart from being a shrewd captain during his playing days, Fleming has shown in the IPL what continuity can bring to a franchise. He is the longest-serving coach in the league and has guided CSK to five titles and two Champions League trophies. Also, he has managed to extract the best out of players, with Shivam Dube being a case in point. Apart from basic skill-set training, Fleming is also known for his leadership programme that has benefitted plenty of Indian domestic players.

Ruturaj Gaikwad (c) of Chennai Superkings and Stephen Fleming, head coach of Chennai Superkings before the start of the match 59 of the Indian Premier League season 17 (IPL 2024) between Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings held at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on the 10th May 2024. (Photo by Vipin Pawar / Sportzpics for IPL)

It is understood that India’s senior players also prefer having a coach with such pedigree and strong technical knowledge, as it would help the next generation of players who are expected to form the core of the team over the next three years.

If the BCCI is not able to lure Fleming, it would be interesting to see where it goes next. Despite England, Pakistan and South Africa splitting their coaching roles between red-ball and white-ball cricket, the BCCI is still hesitant to go for a similar approach as India doesn’t have two different sets of players for Tests and limited-overs formats.

The Indian Express understands that apart from Fleming, other overseas coaches involved with IPL teams are also reluctant to take up the India job as it demands them to be on road for 10 months in a year. Even Dravid has been granted breaks from time and time, with the former India captain often skipping some white-ball series.

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Dravid, who was given a six-month extension post the 50-over World Cup in October-November, has his contract expiring after the T20 World Cup next month. The former India captain has the option of re-applying for the post.

Key parameters

– The Coach will be responsible for developing a world-class cricket team which delivers sustained success in all conditions and formats, inspiring current and future generations of cricketers and stakeholders with their approach to the game.

– The Head Coach will have overall responsibility for the performance and management of the India Men’s team in all three formats of the game.

– The Head Coach will lead a team of specialist coaches and support staff and will be responsible for defining their roles, performance and ongoing development.

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