Rahul Dravid: India legend open to coaching despite ETPL ownership as England search for new Test coach

Former India coach Rahul Dravid says he is still open to coaching roles despite making a foray into franchise ownership.

Dravid is co-owner of the Dublin Guardians in the inaugural edition of the European T20 Premier League (ETPL) which is taking place later this summer.

The 53-year-old played 164 Tests and 344 one-day internationals for India and coached their national team from 2021 to 2024.

Dravid told BBC Sport he would “certainly” be keen continue to be involved in coaching if some “good opportunities come up”.

“This league is only a month in the year so I think that was the exciting part of it, to try and do something different for a month,” Dravid said.

“Of course there’s going to be time before and after that where I’m going to have to give a little bit of my time and energy to ETPL, and I’m committed towards that.

“But it also frees up a lot of the year for me and I definitely will be… if something exciting comes up on the coaching side of things, or any other side of things, we’ll take it as it goes.”

England have begun their search for a new Test coach following the decision to sack Brendon McCullum and are aiming to have a new man in place before a three-Test series against Pakistan starts on 19 August.

The ETPL is set to be played from 26 August to 20 September with games staged in The Hague and Dublin during the first edition.

That would present a dilemma for Dravid, who is widely respected in coaching circles and considered one of the game’s deep thinkers, should he emerge as a surprise contender to succeed McCullum.

Dravid won 14, lost seven and drew three of his 24 matches in charge of India’s Test side and guided them to the 2023 World Test Championship final.

His most recent job was a stint as head coach of Rajasthan Royals for the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League.