"Take Care Of Him": When Rahul Dravid Predicted 11-Year-Old KL Rahul Has Bright Future

KL Rahul waited for his opportunity and proved his mettle across formats. In the recent times, KL Rahul has proved his batting prowess, at various positions wherever required for Team India. His neat glovework only adds to his batting skills. But long before KL Rahul hogged the limelight in international cricket, Test great Rahul Dravid had predicted him to have a bright future.

A skinny KL Rahul had scored two consecutive double centuries at an U-13 tournament. The first one came at the NRA ground and the second one took place at Chinnaswamy stadium. Incidentally, at the same time Rahul Dravid was undergoing endurance training. KL Rahul’s childhood coach Jayaraj recalled speaking to Dravid in Bengaluru.

Rahul Dravid said I watched ‘this kid bat’, he has bright future, please take care of him

KL Rahul’s childhood coach Jayaraj recalled his interaction with Rahul Dravid. He wanted to meet Dravid to seek some valuable tips from him. During that time Dravid told him that he has seen the 11-year-old KL Rahul bat, adding he has a future, and should be taken care of.

“I remember KL got back-to-back double centuries in an Under-13 tournament. He first scored a double hundred at the NRA ground and then scored another double hundred at Chinnaswamy stadium. At the same time, Dravid was undergoing endurance training,” Rahul’s childhood coach Jayaraj told the Times of India.

“When Dravid padded up for a net session. I asked KL to sit at the boundary ropes and watch him. I told him to watch his technique and batting style,” Jayaraj said.

“I did the same for at least a week. Rahul used to watch Dravid carefully,” he said.

“After finishing one net session, Dravid came and said, ‘I watched this kid’s batting (double centuries). He played wonderfully. He has a future, please take care of him,” Jayaraj said.

“I didn’t know a player like Dravid would have so much observation about a kid. I requested him if he can speak with Rahul for some time. Rahul was so happy to meet him. He (Dravid) spoke with Rahul and gave him a pep talk. Rahul still remembers that conversation,” he added.

KL Rahul has now went on to play 36 Tests, 32 ODIs for India. He averages over 34 in the longest format and scored 1239 runs at an average of 47.65 in the ODI format.