In just over 24 hours time from now, a new-look Team India under the leadership of newly appointed skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid will embark on a new journey, when they take on New Zealand in the first of the three T20Is in Jaipur on Wednesday.

Say Hello to our T20I captain @ImRo45 & Head Coach Rahul Dravid. #TeamIndia #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/feQpH0q7tC

Ever since Shastri confirmed that he would step down from the head coach role after the T20 World Cup , most people knew that Dravid was BCCI’s first-choice to take his place. Despite that, it took a lot of convincing from the BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah before Dravid finally agreed to leave his National Cricket Academy (NCA) job and take Shastri’s place in the Indian dressing room.

New roles
New challenges
New beginnings

Energies were high yesterday on Day 1 at the office for #TeamIndia T20I captain @ImRo45 & Head Coach Rahul Dravid. #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/a8zlwCREhl

According to reports, the turning point in this whole saga was the IPL 2021 final in Dubai when Dravid had travelled to the Gulf country. As Chennai Super Kings (CSK) took on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the summit clash, Ganguly and Shah somehow managed to change Dravid’s mind about becoming India’s head coach. However, none of it was ever confirmed by any of the parties involved. 

Opening up about the issue, the BCCI president shared an interesting incident that convinced him that it was time for Dravid to join the senior men’s cricket team.

© Twitter/BCCI

Speaking at the 40th Sharjah International Book Fair, the ‘Prince of Kolkata’ recalled how Dravid's son rang him up and complained about his father being too strict with him and requested him to take him away.

Ganguly joked that it was the moment when he realised it was time for ‘The Wall’ to become India’s next head coach and he immediately called him up and conveyed the message.

“I got a call from him saying his father was being too strict with him and that he needed to be taken away. That's when I called Rahul (Dravid) and told him that it was time for him to join the national team," Ganguly said at the 40th Sharjah International Book Fair.

© Twitter/BCCI

On a rather serious note, the BCCI president added that having played with Dravid for almost the entirety of his international career, both of them have a great understanding and it was this camaraderie that helped him convince the former NCA director to take up the Team India head coach, despite initial reluctance.

“We grew up together, started around the same time, and spent most of the time playing together. So, it was easy for some of us to make him feel welcome and wanted,” Ganguly added.

It's a great opportunity to learn from him. #TeamIndia vice-captain @klrahul11 on working with the newly-appointed Head Coach Rahul Dravid. #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/Aqzp0YCXRE

Whether it was his son’s phone call or something else, we are happy that Dravid has finally taken up Team India’s job. Given his successful stints at the NCA and with the Under-19 and India A sides, we have no doubt that he will prove to be a great asset to the Indian team.

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