Former India batsman VVS Laxman feels the upcoming white-ball sequence in opposition to Sri Lanka is a chance for former India captain and interim head coach Rahul Dravid to create future champions. Sri Lanka and India will sq. off in three ODIs and three T20Is, starting July 13. While Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been named vice-captain, Shikhar Dhawan will lead the group which will be coached by Dravid.
Laxman mentioned it will even be a possibility for Dravid to show himself as a coach and his mere expertise will assist the younger weapons through the Sri Lanka tour. “I don’t think there is any pressure. This is an opportunity for Rahul Dravid to prove himself as a coach. We all know his contribution towards Indian cricket, both as a player and as someone, who has been instrumental in creating the (Team India’s) bench strength – both as India ‘A’ coach and as the director of the National Cricket Academy,” Laxman mentioned on Star Sports’ present Game Plan.
“I believe it is a chance for him to create the long run champions for Indian cricket. It’s not crucial, that everybody will get a possibility to play on this event. But simply spending time with Rahul and sharing his experiences – which he has already carried out with loads of these gamers within the squad – will enhance their future and their development as Indian cricketers,” he added.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan shared an anecdote from the 2007 World Cup, highlighting how Dravid at all times retains his gamers in a constructive mind set. “It’s all about consolation. You carry out a lot better with a coach or a captain, whom you’re snug enjoying with. What Rahul Bhai brings in is – clear communication.
“Even when he was the leader for the Indian cricket team, if anyone had any problem, they could just go up to him and talk about it very freely,” mentioned Irfan. “I bear in mind an incident – once we misplaced the 2007 (ODI) World Cup – we had been in West Indies and he got here as much as me and Mahendra Singh Dhoni and mentioned, ‘look, I know we all are upset, let’s go for a film. We went for the film after which we had half an hour to ask him issues.
“He said, yes, we lost this World Cup, we wanted to make a difference, but this is not the end of it; life is much bigger; we will come back tomorrow. That’s the kind of character he is. He is always looking to put any cricketer in a positive frame of mind. If unfortunately (in Sri Lanka), anyone goes out of form, he will be the first one to guide him and give him confidence,” Irfan recalled.
The likes of Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, and Suryakumar Yadav are additionally within the white-ball squad and plenty of extra children are eyeing a debut for India within the Sri Lanka sequence.
(with ANI inputs)
