MS Dhoni’s influence could play a key role in selecting the next head coach of the Indian team. With Chennai Super Kings out of the Indian Premier League 2024, the BCCI is likely to seek Dhoni’s help to convince Stephen Fleming, who is the head coach of the five-time champions.
According to the Hindustan Times, Fleming was the first choice of the Indian cricket board but he was not ready to to commit till 2027. The former New Zealand captain, who has been at CSK since 2008, is happy with his short stints in several T20 leagues across the globe.
Fleming also heads the Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket (USA) and Joburg Super Kings in SA20 (South Africa). He is the head coach of the Southern Brave in The Hundred.
Despite his association with four different leagues, Fleming gets time to be with his family in New Zealand. If he agrees to coach the Men in Blue, he will have to be with the sub-continent team for 10 months in a year. He made this clear in his discussion with the BCCI. The apex body then started look for other options.
However, the richest cricket board hasn’t given up yet and Dhoni is likely to be their last throw of the dice.
“Fleming hasn’t said no. He is concerned about the duration of the contract, which is not unusual. Even Rahul Dravid was not ready to come on board as the team’s head coach before Sourav Ganguly convinced him. The same thing could happen with Stephen Fleming if MS Dhoni comes in to the picture,” ” a BCCI source told Hindustan Times.
