Forget Conspiracy Theories and Ego Clashes, Rahul Dravid is The Perfect Man to be Team India Boss

Duncan Fletcher is gone and MS Dhoni has hung up his white flannels -- Team India is set to start a new season of international cricket and it's going to be an interesting one. The Test team has a new skipper and in all probability will have a new coach after the tour of Bangladesh.

Even the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has undergone a regime change and the new BCCI is making a lot of noise. (Ravi Shastri Appointed Director of Team India)

Correct noises? Debatable but there seems to be a plan.

The appointment of the new advisory committee - comprising of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman - signals intent. The BCCI wants to rebuild Indian cricket and for the first time, they are asking for help from the correct sources. (Tendulkar, Ganguly, Laxman Agree to be Team India's Advisors)

The terrific trio taking over India's cricketing affairs has generated a lot of hype and after a long time, the Indian cricket fans are in unison with the Board. However, in this entire hullabaloo, Rahul Dravid has gone missing.

Dravid's absence immediately sparked conspiracy theories and why 'The Great Wall of India' didn't feature in the committee became a trending topic. Some said Dravid pulled out due to personal reasons, while the rest speculated that the ex-India number three stepped back to avoid egos clashes. (Dravid Needed for Restructuring Indian Cricket: Dalmiya)

Another theory suggested that Dravid couldn't come on board because of a conflict of interest since he is actively involved as a mentor of Rajasthan Royals franchise.

While the first two arguments held some merit, the third one sank because both Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kumble, a member of the BCCI's technical committee, are active mentors of Mumbai Indians while, Laxman is a part of Sunrisers Hyderabad back-room staff. Ganguly, too, is a high-ranked official of the Cricket Association of Bengal.

So, what exactly was the reason for Dravid's absence?

Is the BCCI planning a bigger role for him? Will he take over as the Head Coach? Will he replace Ravi Shastri as the director after the Bangladesh series?

If any of the above does happen, it will only help Indian cricket. (Rahul Dravid as Team India's Head Coach? Here's Why 'The Wall' Let This Role Pass)

Dravid is the perfect candidate to take over the reins of Team India because apart from his great record, Dravid has a few more things working in his favour.

The Dravid-Kohli combination

The MS Dhoni era is drawing to a close. Kohli will soon usurp the leadership in all formats and Indian cricket will make a massive transition from the freezer to the frying pan. Dhoni and Kohli are poles apart as leaders - Kohli is everything that Dhoni wasn't and Dhoni was everything that Kohli can't be!

Dravid is the perfect man to balance out Kohli's fiery persona as he can be the calming effect whenever the mercury starts to boil over. The fire and ice effect of Kohli and Dravid will provide the perfect balance between aggression and caution for Team India.

The Dravid-Ganguly, Dravid-Tendulkar, Dravid-Laxman equation

Dravid's good relationship with the members of the advisory committee will help Team India

© AFP

Dravid was Ganguly's deputy all along. Dravid and Tendulkar shared the most successful partnership in Test cricket, while Dravid and Laxman scripted epics for India.

The ex-Karnataka batsman has been the common glue between the big-three in the advisory committee. These four have been a part of the Indian team management for more than a decade and have functioned smoothly without any clash of egos. They had one goal as a team and now, after retirement, will look to continue the same chemistry.

Dravid, the tactician and the mentor

Dravid was one of the most under-rated captains during his time. Under his captaincy, India won a Test series in England and created the record of most successful chases in the ODI format. His success as a skipper went unnoticed because during his era, Indian cricket was tainted with the Greg Chappell fiasco.

Dravid - the mentor - came to the fore during the Indian Premier League with Rajasthan Royals. The men from Rajasthan boasts of youngsters and under Dravid's tutelage have showcased memorable performances.

Moreover, Dravid is all about doing the hard yards. He was perhaps one of those few cricketers who earned greatness through sheer toil.

Team India too, is filled with young players and Dravid is the perfect role model for them. Not only will they learn their trade from the master technician, under Dravid's guidance they will have enough opportunities to flourish and reach their full potential.

The man who despises the limelight

Staying behind the curtains -- for a coach, that's one of the biggest qualities. In cricket, a coach always needs to be a support cast for the captain and pull the strings from the background.

John Wright did it with Ganguly. Gary Kirsten did it with Dhoni. Chappell couldn't because it's a difficult role to play for a former superstar. The spotlight is too enticing to be let gone.

However, despising the limelight comes naturally to Dravid. Out of the 'fantastic four' of Indian cricket, he was the one who chose to stay away from the glitz and his achievements were often overshadowed by his flamboyant colleagues.

Tendulkar, Ganguly, Laxman and Dravid -- the famed batting-order of Indian cricket have won games, saved blushes and fought wars on the field. Now, Indian cricket needs them to pad up again. The big-three have already taken guard; will the solid-as-oak number three stay away?

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