Former Indian batsman Rahul Dravid, who was termed as ‘the wall’ in the Indian batting line-up, has reflected on his coaching and the moments he had spent with the different teams as a coach before expressing players can be hesitant if one comes with the vast amount of cricketing experience on his back.
“Coaching is sometimes more challenging and time-consuming but is certainly easier than playing. Playing is a lot harder and stressful. You can never match that pressure,” Dravid told Indian Express.
The 44-year-old Indian Under-19 coach Dravid, who has been sweating profusely alongside young prospects in the nets, has set a great example by keeping the youngsters gelled with each other – to make them mentally prepared so that they can give best of the performances during their fixtures against different opponents.
“You have to be the first one to approach them at times. But the more time we spend with each other, they get to know me better, especially when we go on tours. They are pretty confident to come have a chat about things and even share a joke with me,” Dravid Added.
The Indian Under-19 skipper Abhishek Sharma in his recent interview has expressed there was a pin-drop silence when Rahul Dravid arrived in the dressing room following the Asia Cup celebration.
“One of the things I recognised when I started coaching, especially at the U-19 level, is when someone who’s played a lot of cricket comes in as coach, players can be a bit hesitant at times. You have a reputation,” Dravid said.
In the recent past, when Dravid was the part of the then Indian Premier League franchise Rajasthan Royals as a mentor. Dravid showed his emotion in a dug-out by throwing the cap on a ground after losing the game against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in 2014.
“I do get nervous. I get more nervous as a coach than I did as a player, whether it’s at Rajasthan Royals or even at the U-19 level,” Dravid revealed.
Against his nature, Dravid was also seen dancing in a Rajasthan Royals’ team video before admitting it was somehow uncomfortable but it’s good to try something new with the time.
“They are uncomfortable. It’s not easy for me. You won’t see me being the life of a party or standing up and suddenly singing or dancing. The few times I do it, it’s a little bit against my nature. But it’s sometimes good to try and get out of your nature,” Dravid further said.
Dravid also recalled his U-19 moment when he preferred to stay silent as the former skippers Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar paid a visit to a national academy in Bangalore.