IND vs SA: It Is Great From Our Perspective That Young Indian Players Are Leading Well In IPL – Rahul Dravid

Team India head coach Rahul Dravid noted how young Indian players carried a fantastic job of leading different franchises in the IPL 2022.

KL Rahul (LSG), Hardik Pandya (GT), Sanju Samson (RR), Rishabh Pant (DC), and Shreyas Iyer (KKR) were amongst the emerging leaders in the lucrative tournament.

Barring Hardik, all other aforementioned players had the experience of captaining teams in IPL before this season. Hardik, in his first season, led Gujarat Titans to title triumph as his side outsmarted Sanju Samson and his men in the final by seven wickets.

It is great that we have a lot of Indian captains doing well in IPL: Rahul Dravid

Dravid was full of praise for all the youngsters leading their respective IPL teams and affirmed it as a positive sign for Indian cricket.

“It is great that we have a lot of Indian captains doing well. Hardik was one of them. Brilliant. KL did a good job at LSG and Sanju in RR. Shreyas in KKR,” Dravid said in a press conference.

“It is really great to see the young batters leading the team. It helps people grow and develop as players, having to lead teams to make the decisions. It helps you grow as a person and as a player. It is great from our perspective that the younger Indian players are leading well in the IPL,” he added.

Hardik Pandya’s leadership was very impressive in the IPL and he performed well: Rahul Dravid

Hardik was the leading run-scorer with the bat for IPL 2022 champions Gujarat Titans, 487 runs in 15 innings, and returned with eight scalps with the ball in the tournament.

Dravid acknowledged Hardik’s return to form with both bat and ball. The Indian head coach also appreciated the 28-year-old all-rounder’s leadership skills in the maiden IPL season.

“It is really pleasing to have him back. Hardik at his best is a fantastic cricketer with both bat and ball. He’s been very successful in white-ball cricket and has shown some really good form in this IPL as well,” Dravid said.

“His leadership was very impressive in the IPL and he performed well. You don’t have to be designated as a leader to be part of the leadership group,” he added.

India will play South Africa in the first of five T20Is on Thursday (June 9) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.

KL Rahul will lead the 18-member squad in the five-match series in regular skipper Rohit Sharma’s absence.

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