Dravid to coach India white-ball team in Lanka

New Delhi, May 20

Former India captain Rahul Dravid, currently heading the National Cricket Academy (NCA), is set to be named the head coach of the Indian white-ball squad that will tour Sri Lanka in July.

Dravid, who stopped travelling with the India A and U-19 teams after taking over as NCA head in Bengaluru, will be the head coach of the second-string side in the absence of the main team staff. The India coaching staff, including head coach Ravi Shastri, bowling coach Bharat Arun and batting coach Vikram Rathour, will be on tour in England for five Test matches and the World Test Championship final during the time India’s white-ball specialists play in Sri Lanka.

“He will travel with the team to Sri Lanka in all likelihood,” a BCCI official said.

Bowling coach Paras Mhambrey will also be part the of the support staff.

India are expected to play three ODIs and as many T20s in Sri Lanka in July, though the schedule has not been announced yet.

Dravid has earned praise for unearthing and grooming young talent during his stint with the India A and India under-19 sides. Many of the India youngsters, including those who could be touring Sri Lanka, have played under Dravid as coach. The Board of Control for Cricket in India is yet to confirm Dravid’s appointment, however.

The squad will have plenty of fringe players and some established white-ball specialists. Hardik Pandya, Shikhar Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer are in the running for captaincy.

It remains to be seen if Iyer recovers in time from his shoulder surgery to play in Sri Lanka. — Agencies