ICC World Cup 2023: Will Rahul Dravid Remain Team India Head Coach After Show-Piece Tournament?

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India enters the ICC World Cup 2023 as favourites, but all eyes will be on Rahul Dravid, whose two-year contract as the head coach of the senior men's national team expires at the end of the show-piece tournament.

Dravid took over the reigns as head coach in November 2021 after Ravi Shastri ended his four-year long stint in the role. Shastri left the role when his contract expired and on the back of a disappointing T20 World Cup in UAE. Dravid too may follow the same pattern.

Although he failed in two attempts at the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia and World Test Championship, Dravid has the chance to end India's wait for a ICC trophy and redeem himself in the upcoming home ODI World Cup.

However, there has been question marks over his credentials as a white ball coach as he hasn't really left an impression which could compel anyone to consider him as a shrewd tactician. He has rather been perceived as someone, who is a bit defensive when it comes to taking tough calls in ODI and T20Is.

In T20I World Cup, he relied on the top-three that had past its sell-by-date in the shortest format to continue and the decision to drop Ravichandran Ashwin during the World Test Championship final also didn't seem to be a very prudent call.

Now, the lack of a right-arm spinner (finger or wrist) in the current World Cup squad or the bullishness to include KL Rahul, without him proving his match-fitness are decisions that might come back to haunt him.

Even though a lot will depend on team's World Cup performance but Dravid isn't a great white ball coach and someone with more hands-on approach could help the team in the next phase when some legends will be expected to walk into the sunset.

Will Dravid continue as head coach after ODI World Cup?

His two-year contract will expire at the end of ODI World Cup but as per report from PTI, coach Dravid's future will be followed keenly in case the Indian team lifts the coveted trophy.

The report adds that it's is a foregone conclusion that Dravid will be the scapegoat if India cannot at least make it to the title clash as even a semi-final appearance will not be deemed good enough.

So, BCCI may search for a coach again as the report claims 'The Wall' will not be keen on a renewal of contract in case the board supremo Jay Shah offers a fresh deal.

However, with many nations appointing separate coaches for different formats - red ball and white ball - like England, South Africa and West Indies, there is a belief that Dravid, in case he decides to renew his contract, should continue as the red ball coach.

With South Africa (away) and England (home series) series scheduled very close to the World Cup, there is a big chance that happens. A BCCI office bearer also has hinted that India should follow England, who have Brendon McCullum (red ball) and Matthew Mott (white ball) coaches.

"Suppose India wins the World Cup, Dravid himself might not want a renewal as he would like to end his stint on a high. But if you ask me, post World Cup, the BCCI should seriously think of having separate coaches for separate formats. They should ask Rahul to continue as red ball coach," a former BCCI office-bearer told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

Dravid has also taken breaks with National Cricket Academy (NCA) and his former teammate VVS Laxman filling in for his absence on some tours as for someone, who is involved in a tremendously high-pressure job, could be taxing.

Although many may talk of his limited overs calls as a coach, the record on the whole does not look that bad in white ball format. Here is a look at his coaching record with the senior team:

Dravid India Coaching Record in White-Ball Format