It’s Another Opportunity For Me To Learn And Improve: Rahul Dravid Excited Ahead Of His Maiden Stint As Team India's Coach

Former Indian captain Rahul Dravid is all set to make his debut as the coach of the national team during the upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka.

With the current head coach Ravi Shastri in England with the senior team, Rahul Dravid will step in as coach of India’s second-string team that will travel to Sri Lanka for 3 ODIs and as many T20Is under the leadership of Shikhar Dhawan.

Dravid has previously coached the India A and U-19 teams and under his coaching, Prithvi Shaw and company won the 2018 U-19 World Cup in New Zealand.

Ahead of the team’s departure to Sri Lanka, Rahul Dravid addressed the media in a press conference where he expressed his excitement for the upcoming assignment.

Dravid said that the squad is a great blend of youth and experience and he is looking forward to creating an environment that allows players to flourish during the series.

He also added that the upcoming series will be a great learning curve for him as a coach.

“It’s a great blend of experienced players and fresh players. As a coach, it’s quite an exciting situation because you know if you create a good environment, everyone will learn a lot. We have to be together as a large group, there are opportunities to learn and grow. It’s a good chance for me as well, as a coach you’re always learning from every experience. You learn about yourself and about cricket. It’s another opportunity for me to learn and improve. I’m quite excited,” said Rahul Dravid as quoted by News18.

When asked if the Sri Lankan will be crucial for Prithvi Shaw, Rahul Dravid said that n Po t only for Shaw, the tour will be a great opportunity for the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devdutt Padikkal, both of whom will get their first taste of international cricket.

”For a lot more people other than Prithvi as well… someone like Devdutt Padikkal or Ruturaj Gaikwad, a lot of the younger boys will be extremely keen to do well. Whether they get called up for the T20 WC is for the selectors to take. But certainly, a good performance against international oppositions will help. If you can do well at this level, the selectors will certainly take note. No tour is a life and death situation; it’s not like just because you do well against Sri Lanka, you’ll make it, or vice versa. But performing in the pressure of international cricket, the selectors will certainly take note,” said Dravid.

India will lock horns with Sri Lanka in a series of three ODIs and as many T20Is, starting July 13.

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