The Board of Control for Cricket in India is keen to rope in former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming as the next head coach of the Indian Men’s Cricket Team, according to an Indian Express report.
With Rahul Dravid’s contract running out at the end of the T20 World Cup, BCCI is on the hunt for his replacement. Discussions were on with the CSK coach throughout the IPL season but Fleming is understood to have shown reluctance with the duration of the contract and also India’s all-year-round cricket commitments. The new contract will run till the end of the ODI World Cup 2027.
While most of the top cricketing nations have different coaches for different formats, BCCI still goes with the traditional one-coach method for all the formats. This requires a coach to be engaged with the team for almost 10 months in a year – something Fleming is apprehensive about as he won’t get enough time to spend with his family. 
Presently, the CSK coach is engaged with the record IPL winners for around 3 months and spends the rest of the year coaching its sister concerns – Joburg Super Kings in SA20 (South Africa) and Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket (USA). The shorter duration of franchise leagues gives Fleming the luxury to balance his professional commitments and family life.
As a last resort, the think tanks in the BCCI are banking on MS Dhoni’s relationship with Fleming to get him on board. “Fleming hasn’t said no. He has expressed his concerns about the tenure of the contract, which is nothing unusual. Even Rahul Dravid wasn’t keen in the beginning. He was persuaded. It shouldn’t be a surprise if the same thing happens with Fleming. And who better than MS Dhoni to do the job?” Hindustan Times quoted a BCCI official.
With many senior players at the fag end of their playing careers, Team India will undergo a massive transition in the next couple of years with youngsters taking over the reins. Keeping all these factors in mind, BCCI wants a coach who can help India go through a seamless transition. Fleming, known for his calm demeanour and his management skills, makes him BCCI’s candidate No. 1.
Apart from Fleming, BCCI is also understood to be talking to yesteryear stars like Justin Langer, Gautam Gambhir, and Mahela Jayawardene. But they are still not giving up on Stephen Fleming, who captained New Zealand in 303 matches.
