Not VVS Laxman or Gautam Gambhir! BCCI targets Stephen Fleming as next India head coach after Rahul Dravid

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is seeing former New Zealand cricketer and current Chennai Super Kings (CSK) coach Stephen Fleming as a successor of Rahul Dravid as head coach of Team India. As per the reports in Indian Express, it is learned that Fleming is seen as a potential candidate to take up the role.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday (13th May) invited the applications for the head coach of Team India. This comes after Rahul Dravid's tenure is all set to end after the T20 World Cup 2024.

The BCCI stated that they need a new coach for 3.5 years. The contract will range from 1st July 2024 to 31st December 2027. This remains the biggest challenge for the governing body if Stephen Fleming accepts the terms and conditions and applies for the post, which demands the coach to be with the team for 10 months a year.

It is learned that BCCI is seeing Stephen Fleming as a potential candidate because the team is likely to under-transition in the three formats over the next couple of years. The governing body has been impressed by Fleming's ability to bring the best out of players, which he has been doing with Chennai Super Kings since 2009.

The reports claimed that BCCI has already had an informal conversation with Stephen Fleming during the ongoing IPL 2024. It's learned that the former New Zealand cricketer hasn't talked about this with Chennai Super Kings management. If he takes up the role with the India team, then he will have to end commitments with all the franchises.

Stephen Fleming, who has been head coach of Joburg Super Kings in SA20 and Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket along with head coach of Southern Brave in The Hundred, is getting a lot of admiration for the things he has done in the IPL. He has guided the team to five titles and two Champions League trophies.

Stephen Fleming is also credited a lot for the turnaround of Shivam Dube. The left-hander for the last two years has been magnificent with the bat. He is one of the main reasons behind the team's success in the league in the last two years. Based on that he also earned a spot in the team for the T20 World Cup 2024.

Senior Indian players give preference to Stephen Fleming

The reports also claimed that senior Indian players are keen to have a coach with such pedigree and strong technical knowledge. Having someone like Stephen Fleming, they believe can help youngsters to form the core of the team over the next three years.

BCCI is not keen to have separate coaches for white ball and red-ball like England, Pakistan, and South Africa. If BCCI is unable to get him on board, it will be interesting to see where will they head to. Apart from Fleming, some other foreign coaches have also expressed their desire to take the role.

Recently, Justin Langer also talked about taking up the role. Rahul Dravid, who was given, a six-month extension post the 50-over World Cup in October-November, also has the option to re-apply for the post. It remains to be seen who will the BCCI get on board.