Rahul Dravid’s trajectory as India’s coach is on the brink of being delineated by the outcome of the impending ODI World Cup 2023, slated to transpire on home soil. Nonetheless, as the World Cup looms, substantial inquiries persist about Dravid’s role. India’s ongoing experimentation against West Indies seeks to ascertain the optimal combination in the lead-up to the Asia Cup 2023.
The untimely injuries sustained by key players such as Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Jasprit Bumrah have presented formidable challenges. This predicament formed the rationale behind resting Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for the final two matches of the recently concluded ODI series – a series won under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya.
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Former Pakistani cricketer Danish Kaneria weighed in on Dravid’s coaching style, acknowledging him as a certified legend while voicing reservations about his proactive involvement. Kaneria proposed that Ashish Nehra should assume coaching responsibilities for India, particularly in the T20I format, citing Nehra’s successes with Gujarat Titans in the IPL.
Danish Kaneria articulated his stance on his YouTube channel, stating, “Why is this Indian team not showing enough intent? Hardik Pandya has achieved a lot of success with Gujarat Titans because of Ashish Nehra’s presence.”
Furthermore, Danish contended that Dravid might not be the ideal fit for India’s T20I head coach role. Instead, he advocated for Nehra’s inclusion, underscoring Nehra’s consistent engagement on the field, transmitting messages to players during the IPL.
Danish Kaneria opined, “India must show more intent in T20Is, and a coach plays a big role in that. Rahul Dravid, no doubt, was a world-class player, but Dravid doesn’t deserve to be a coach in T20s. He is very slow. On the other hand, you see Ashish Nehra constantly do something and pass on messages in the field. I think he should get an opportunity.”
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While envisioning an end to Dravid’s tenure before the ODI World Cup 2023 seems implausible, the Men in Blue’s performance in the home World Cup holds pivotal significance. It might ultimately shape the decision about whether the ‘Wall of India,’ Rahul Dravid, continues his tenure until the next T20 World Cup or if an opportunity is extended to someone like Ashish Nehra.
