Working with young talent really interests me: Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid

Newly appointed India A and India U-19 coach Rahul Dravid held forth on how he will go about his new job of contributing to Indian cricket, and what he aims to achieve in his new role.

Dravid said, “I think it is really exciting because it has been an area I have always been interested in. I feel it is a very important stage of development of a lot of cricketers, having been through it myself.

“I am just hoping that having experience being on A tours and being with an Indian Under-19 team, I will probably be able to help some of these young cricketers on their journey,”

A majority of Indian cricket fans had hoped to see the ‘Wall of India’ in a coaching capacity with the senior Indian cricket team, and many are still hopeful that his latest assignment is a stepping stone, for him to be moulded as the India coach in the near future.

However, Dravid said, “I don’t see this as any stepping stone, I just see this as an opportunity to work with young players over the next few months, six weeks of an A tour and may be six or seven weeks, with the Under-19 team. This is all I see it as.

“More than anything this is something that really interests me, working hands on with young talent and obviously the fact that it is not as encompassing as say a national coach’s job is. It makes it a really good fit for me.”

Will work closely with coaches at various levels: Dravid

Dravid also talked about how he has already progressed in his coaching job, and how he plans to coordinate with cricket management at various levels in the country.

He said, “I have put forward what I think might be the best structure to help the A team and the Under-19 team and in the end help the player and give them the best environment and best opportunity that gives them the best chance to be able to put in performances that help their future, their careers and bring on the next generation of young Indian cricketers.

“Tendulkar, Ganguly and Laxman are going to be around. We are definitely going to dip into their vast knowledge and experiences at various stages.

“I hope to be able to work closely with Ravi (Shastri), his support staff and the national selectors and just to find out from them what they see as the next generation of cricketers coming through. A lot of this is about working with people, domestic and Ranji Trophy coaches to help build the next generation of good young Indian cricketers.”

BCCI appoint Rahul Dravid as U19 & A team coach! Absolutely brilliant! Imagine how those players will feel in a room & training with him!

— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) June 7, 2015