Sri Lanka Series Another Opportunity For Rahul Dravid To Create Future Champions: VVS Laxman

Legendary Indian cricketer VVS Laxman has reckoned that the upcoming ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka will be another opportunity for his former partner-in-crime and head coach Rahul Dravid to create future champions.

India will lock horns with Sri Lanka in three ODIs and as many T20Is later this month and the rubber will be Rahul Dravid’s maiden assignment as the head coach of the national team.

“I don’t think that there is any pressure (on Dravid). It is an opportunity for him to create future champions of Indian cricket. It is not necessary that everyone will get an opportunity to play in this series. But just spending time with Rahul and sharing his experiences, which is already done with a lot of players in the squad will just enhance their future,” said VVS Laxman on Star Sports.

Meanwhile, former seam-bowling all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes that Rahul Dravid’s clarity in communicating with his players will allow the youngsters to approach him freely.

‘’What Rahul brings in is clear communication. Even when he was the leader of Indian cricket team… at that time also, he was very clear with any youngster. If anyone had any kind of problem, they can go up to him and just talk about it freely,” said Pathan.

Irfan Pathan went on to recount an incident from Rahul Dravid’s captaincy tenure to testify the former captain’s positive outlook towards things.

Pathan recounted how Rahul Dravid came up to him and MS Dhoni following India’s exit from the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies and boosted their morale.

‘’I remember a very small incident from the 2007 World Cup in West Indies. He came to me and Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He said, ‘Look we are all upset. Let’s go for a movie,’’ recalled Pathan.

‘’We went to watch the movie and then he said, ‘look, yes we lost the World Cup. We all wanted to make a big difference. But this is not 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 cricketers in a positive frame of mind. So, if someone, unfortunately, goes out of form in Sri Lanka…if that happens, he will be the first one to guide him and give confidence,” he added.

The India-Sri Lanka rubber will kick off with a three-match ODI series in Colombo from July 13.

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