Bengaluru: Former Indian Test skipper Rahul Dravid will take charge of the India U-19 and ‘A’s sides to infuse momentum into the youth sides. Keen to coach the youngsters rather than the national team, owing to personal commitments, Dravid was announced as the junior team's coach after a board advisory meeting on Saturday. The newly constituted committee comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman met for the first time in Kolkata and Dravid, a veteran of 164 Tests, has accepted the position and is looking forward to the new role honing the skills of the future stars of Indian cricket.
“I am looking forward to working with the next generation of exciting young Indian cricketers. India ‘A’ and under-19 level are really important stages, with its challenges and pressure and having been through it myself I hope I will be able to help the young players in their journeys,” said the 42-year-old, who is also the mentor of IPL side Rajasthan Royals since the last two seasons. Dravid was approached to be part of the advisory committee and there were talks that he was even offered the coach's role following the departure of Duncan Fletcher but apparently the Karnataka stalwart wasn't comfortable with the job owing to family commitments.
Dravid had also donned the role of batting consultant for the senior team ahead of the England tour last year.“It is important to work with young players, figure out what they are doing and what they need,” added Dravid. The former star batsman’s first assignment will be the ‘A’ team’s tri-series to be hosted by India in July involving South Africa and Australia. Later next year, Dravid will accompany the U-19 side to the World Cup in Bangladesh.
“I see the India A and under-19 as a bunch of players with a lot of talent. And it is also about moving up to the next level, filling up places in the senior team and yes I will be talking to Ravi (Shastri) and the senior staff and the national selectors, figuring out what they see as the challenges that the Indian team faces and see that if we can help groom the kind of cricketers they are looking for.”
