No coach has succeeded in bringing an ICC trophy to India since Duncan Fletcher in 2013. After the 2013 Champions Trophy win, India has lost 10 ICC events in a row under the coaching of Anil Kumble, Ravi Shastri, and Rahul Dravid. The 2024 T20 World Cup will be Rahul Dravid’s last as India’s Head Coach and BCCI is already in search of a successor.
Acording to reports, certain key members of the BCCI are advocating for the appointment of a foreign coach. As per Hindustan Times, the board wants Stephen Fleming, the current Head Coach of Chennai Super Kings, to apply for the position. However, rather than directly approaching the former New Zealand captain, the board prefers to use MS Dhoni as a mediator to facilitate the process.
MS Dhoni to serve as a dealmaker between the BCCI and Stephen Fleming
As per reports, the BCCI is seeking MS Dhoni’s assistance to persuade Stephen Fleming to express interest in becoming India’s next Head Coach. Any candidate interested in the position needs to fill out an application form and submit it to the BCCI before May 27. Currently, the board is actively scouting for the best candidates, and recently they also approached Gautam Gambhir for the same.
One reason the BCCI wants Dhoni to be the dealmaker is that they may believe Fleming would be reluctant to part ways with CSK after being associated with the team for 16 years. Additionally, Fleming is currently associated with other leagues as well. He is committed to serving as the Head Coach for Texas Super Kings (USA), Joburg Super Kings (South Africa), and the Southern Brave (England) in the coming season.
Fleming has been serving as CSK’s coach since 2008 and is the only coach in IPL history to have won 5 trophies. Becoming India’s coach would mean he has to say an emotional goodbye to the Chennai Super Kings franchise, as he cannot hold two positions under the BCCI. Additionally, he would no longer be able to coach other teams during his tenure as India’s coach.
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Applying for the position of India’s Head Coach is likely to be a tough decision for Stephen Fleming, and thus, the BCCI may feel that MS Dhoni is the person who can persuade him to do so. Given Fleming’s experience and successful career as a coach, there is no doubt that he will be a top contender if he decides to apply.