"Who better than MS Dhoni to do the job" - BCCI source hopes Dhoni convinces CSK coach Stephen Fleming for Team India's head coach role

World Cup-winning Indian captain MS Dhoni might be the deal-breaker between the BCCI and the Chennai Super Kings' long-serving head coach Stephen Fleming. The former New Zealand player is among the favorites to replace Rahul Dravid as the head coach of the Indian Men's Cricket Team.

The Super Kings failed to reach the IPL playoffs after their 27-run defeat against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, May 18. The BCCI is now trying to reach out to Dhoni to help them convince Fleming, who is very much on their radar despite expressing his reluctance to commit to the job till 2027.

Top BCCI officials also believe that given the long association between the duo, MS Dhoni is the right person to persuade Fleming to say yes to the top post. Speaking to the Hindustan Times, a BCCI source said:

"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?"

Apart from his coaching stint with the five-time IPL winners CSK, the former Kiwi skipper is at the helm of three other teams in various leagues — the Joburg Super Kings in South Africa's SA20, Texas Super Kings in USA's Major League Cricket, and Southern Brave in The Hundred.

---

Team India begin their 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup campaign on June 5 against Ireland

Meanwhile, the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, which will be Rahul Dravid's last assignment as the head coach, kicks off on June 1. Team India will begin their campaign four days later on June 5 with a group fixture against Ireland in Texas.

The action-packed T20I tournament that comprises 20 teams involves 55 matches, with the teams being divided into four groups of five teams each. Placed in Group A, the Men in Blue will also be facing Canada, co-hosts USA, and arch-rivals Pakistan. The final is all set to be played on Saturday, June 29, at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.