India’s Under-19 coach and former captain Rahul Dravid said current Team India skipper Virat Kohli has been an inspiration for many in the cricketing world in particular and wants his wards to follow the footsteps of Kohli, who has been having a remarkable run owing to his consistency.
As Kohli is an inspiration for the young generation in the contemporary cricket, the former top-order batsman Dravid suggested U-19 players draw encouragement from the batting mainstay of Team India.
“I tell my boys to learn consistency from him,” Dravid was quoted as saying by NewsX.
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While lauding the efforts of inform 29-year-old Kohli, Dravid asserted he is not sitting out to count and compare cricketers with each other, but according to him Kohli has excelled across formats which is further understood with his batting average of over 50 in all three formats.
“Kohli has been absolutely sensational in past 18 months. I do not like comparing people, but he is one of the best batsmen in the world in all three formats of the game,” Dravid added.
Interestingly, Dravid remarked he is hopeful India would be able to beat South Africa while relying on their strength.
“We have selected one of the best team for South Africa tour,” Dravid further added.
Moreover, veteran batsman Dravid reiterated the Kohli side has been dominating at home and went on to play quality cricket particularly in the longer version of the game, as the team is topping the Test charts – to go from strength to strength.
Dravid expressed India is a balanced side and has shaped well to produce resounding results recently in the gentleman’s game.
“I agree with selector MSK Prasad that we have a balanced side and I am sure we will beat Proteas in their own country,” Dravid stated.
With India scheduled to play the bilateral series on the South African soil, Dravid added India would be relying on their seniors, as Kohli would be the key for the side.
However, the bilateral series will kick off with the first Test on January 5, next year in the Cape Town. Moreover, India will be played six-match One-day International series and followed by three Twenty20 Internationals. India will play its last bilateral fixture against Sri Lanka on December 24 before flying to the African continent for the gruelling season.
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Talking about the pollution after Sri Lankan players came out to the field while wearing the masks after a thick blanket of smog hung over the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi that sparked a controversy in the cricketing world, Dravid said,
“Thankfully we have no air pollution in Bengaluru so we are very happy. But yes, people do find it difficult in such conditions,” Dravid further added.
Dravid added the return of Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the Chennai Super Kings would entertain the crowd while adding it would be a boost for the Indian Premier League franchise to have their star player back in the fold owing to the IPL 2018 competition.
“The people of Chennai really love Dhoni and they will be very excited to get him back in the team and hopefully they will see Dhoni on the streets of Chennai again,” Dravid concluded.
The 44-year-old Indore-born Dravid played 344 ODIs followed by 164 Tests and a solitary T20Is for India between 1996 and 2011.