ENG vs IND 2018: Rahul Dravid had agreed to become India’s batting consultant, reveals Sourav Ganguly

The CAC had roped in Rahul and Zaheer Khan as consultants for the Indian Team.

Sourav also unveiled a chat that Rahul had with Shastri before declining the offer.

Former Indian Captain Sourav Ganguly has revealed that Rahul Dravid had actually agreed to be India's batting consultant on overseas tours, when the former being part of the Cricket Advisory Committee, alongside VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar, suggested BCCI to appoint him for the important job. Sourav even went onto unveil a chat that Rahul had with head coach Ravi Shastri before declining the offer eventually. 

At the time for Anil Kumble's departure and Ravi Shastri's appointment, The CAC had suggested BCCI to rope in Rahul as well as Zaheer Khan as batting and bowling consultants for overseas tours but it didn't materialise and while Shastri got along Sanjay Bangar and Bharat Arun, two technically sound coaches, the performance of the Indian team hasn't been upto the mark. 

"Rahul Dravid had been asked to become a batting consultant and he had even agreed. But then he spoke to Ravi and I don’t know what happened after that." Ganguly was quoted saying, "The Committee of Administrators also had added to the confusion with the coach selection and we were tired and just got out of it. So it’s difficult for me to say why Rahul Dravid did not become the batting consultant. But if Ravi Shastri was given the responsibility, after consulting Virat Kohli, then he has to fulfill that responsibility and improve the team,"

While Committee of Administrators(COA) Chief Vinod Rai said they weren’t aware of any such appointment or announcement as COA's job was to select only the head coach, Ganguly further said, “Anil Kumble had a one-year contract. It had no renewal or extension clause. When the CoA took over, we got to know a month later that his contract was expiring and we followed the protocol that was followed during his appointment. The idea was to select the head coach by the CAC — comprising of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman. Transparency requires you to follow a process and the due process throws up a result."

“The CAC was the entrusted body and they did what they felt was best. It wasn’t an unceremonious exit as his contract was only for a year. We made no statements on Zaheer Khan or Rahul Dravid’s appointments. Our job was to select the head coach through the due process,” he concluded. 

(Inputs from India TV)

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 05 Sep, 2018

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