Anil Kumble was named as the Team India head coach on Thursday (23rd July) evening. 57 candidates had applied for this high profile job job, which was later trimmed down to 21 and interviewed in Kolkata. Shastri and Kumble were the front runners for the post and eventually Kumble was chosen by the committee. But, before all this happened, Rahul Dravid was offered the job.
Rahul Dravid, who coached the India U/19 boys during the World cup earlier this year was approached by the BCCI for the job but he rejected it.
“I requested Rahul Dravid to coach the Indian team. He didn’t say no, but said that he will work for the junior team. That is the good thing about Dravid. He didn’t go for the senior team post, big money and all. He wanted to work for the junior cricketers and not the senior team”, Anurag Thakur said.
Rahul explained, “I can only do only short-term assignments for now, I can’t stay away from home for long periods of time, short assignments suit me better.”