What challenges lie ahead for new Team India Coach Rahul Dravid?

Rahul Dravid has already made a grand entry as the Indian cricket team's coach. Dravid and his men whitewashed the Kiwi team at home in the T20I series 3-0. Now, they go to the test series. Though the team played solid cricket, Rahul Dravid will still have to face a few challenges as a coach in the road ahead. However, after becoming the only team to whitewash the New Zealand team in T20Is at both home and away, there were no questions asked upon his strategies. Though, there are many points to look upon if India wants to dominate world cricket by winning major trophies. 

Challenges for Dravid in T20I and ODI cricket 

ICC has already released its calendar for the next decade and it's full of white-ball cricket. Perhaps, ICC thinks a world cup after two years will grow the popularity of the game in non-test playing countries. According to the best cricket betting sites in India, the next decade will be huge for the game of cricket.  

So, what's next for Rahul Dravid and the company? 2022 T20 World Cup. Here are the few points the head coach of the team would like to tick off before the mega event.  

#1 Hardik Pandya's availability and the finisher 

Hardik Pandya has been on and off the field for two years now. His lack of bowling has already questioned his selection as a proper batter in the team. So, without a proper finisher how does team India plans to win ICC events? Well, there are some options if Hardik is not fit for the position. Venkatesh Iyer has been good. But, he has not been tested in a tougher situation till now. Shardul Thakur needs to brush up his bowling economy before getting a nod in the selection. All-rounders likes Shivam Dubey and Vijay Shankar are out of the probable as well. In that case, a rookie like Sharukh Khan who just won the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament for Tamil Nadu by hitting a last-ball six can be looked into. Any other names? Dravid might have to dig deep into the domestic circuit to produce one. 

#2 The sixth bowler 

Experts have kept on saying that you need to have depth in your bowling just like your batting to win tournaments. Somehow, under Virat's leadership, India lacked that. None of the top-order batsmen was willing to bowl. Moreover, some even can't roll their arm over. With Hardik, not bowling, it became tougher for the former captain as well. In that case, Dravid might have to balance it between a number seven batter or a sluggish all-rounder like Shardul who might not give you a full quota of four overs every game but can dong the ball out of the park. 

#3 Who should bat at four and five? 

In white-ball cricket, you might not need to worry about number three. Even out of form Virat Kohli can outscore any batter in the world in that position. However, India needs to fix their middle-order combination before the mega event. Surya looked promising but lacks consistency. Shreyas Iyer is surely the man in the longer period. But, in T20Is Rahul Dravid would have to choose between Ishan Kishan, Surya Kumar, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson or any other player to form a solid middle-order that will serve for a longer period. 

Challenges for Dravid in Test cricket  

Challenges for the Indian team management in test cricket is fewer. The only thing they need to sort is the opening pair. It will be interesting to see if they want to pursue with Gill and Rohit opening or they want to give Mayank Agarwal a deserving long-run at the top of the order. In that case, Gill might have to sit out or play in the middle order. Hanuma Vihari's exclusion is not also justified as well. 

The bowling in home conditions does not have any issues. But team selections in the overseas test is still a concern for men in blue. A genuine matchwinner like Ravi Ashwin deserves a game every test. However, Jadeja has not done any harm to his reputation as well. Meanwhile, Shardul and Washinton Sundar has done pretty well last time they wore the whites for India. The pace bowling's rotation policy needs to be taken care of as well. For Rahul Dravid that will be the toughest challenge in the test arena to win the next World Test Championship.