Rahul Dravid will not coach Team India in ODIs vs South Africa, new replacement named: Report

Head coach Rahul Dravid and his support staff will not be involved in India’s three-match ODI series against South Africa which starts on 17 December (Sunday), it was reported on Saturday. VVS Laxman, the National Cricket Academy (NCA) head, who filled in for Dravid during the Australia T20I series at home will also not be replacing the head coach this time, Cricbuzz reports. Instead, NCA staff Sitanshu Kotak will be Team India’s coach in the ODI series, while Ajay Ratra will be the fielding coach and Rajib Dutta will be the bowling coach.

Batting coach Vikram Rathour, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey and fielding coach T Dilip will also be missing the ODI along with Dravid.

Dravid has decided to skip the ODIs as his focus is on the two-match Test series against South Africa which starts on 26 December. India have never won a Test series in South Africa. The Test series also offers valuable World Test Championship (WTC) points.

While missing the ODI series, Dravid will keep his eye on the three-day inter-squad match which starts on 20 December in Pretoria.

With the next ODI World Cup in 2027, the team management it seems is more focussed on T20 and Test cricket.

The report also stated that Virat Kohli, R Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah who are part of the Test squad have left for South Africa, while captain Rohit Sharma was still in Mumbai till Friday evening.

Mohammed Shami, who is struggling with an ankle injury, has not travelled to South Africa and is set to miss the Test series.