VVS Laxman: It's an opportunity for Rahul Dravid to create the future champions

VVS Laxman. Picture/ AFP

Former India cricketer VVS Laxman has known Rahul Dravid ever since their days together in the Indian cricket team. Laxman and Dravid were responsible for one of the most impactful partnerships in the history of Test cricket.

Now, former cricketer, Rahul Dravid takes on a new role - that of coach of the Team India contingent that is touring Sri Lanka for the upcoming ODI series.

Speaking exclusively on Star Sports' show Game Plan, former Indian batsman VVS Laxman spoke about Rahul Dravid's contribution towards Indian Cricket, "I don't think there is any pressure. This is an opportunity for Rahul Dravid to prove himself as a coach. We all know his contribution towards Indian cricket, both as a player and as someone, who has been instrumental in creating the (Team India's) bench strength - both as India A coach and as the Director of the National Cricket Academy. I think it is an opportunity for him to create the future champions for Indian cricket. It's not necessary, that everyone will get an opportunity to play in this tournament. But just spending time with Rahul and sharing his experiences - which he has already done with a lot of these players in the squad - will enhance their future and their growth as Indian cricketers."

Former Team India all-rounder Irfan Pathan lavishes praise on Rahul Dravid and shares anecdotes from the 2007 World Cup, "It's all about comfort. You perform much better with a coach or a captain, whom you are comfortable playing with. What Rahul Bhai brings in is - Clear communication. Even when he was the leader for the Indian cricket team, if anyone had any problem, they could just go up to him and talk about it very freely. I remember an incident - when we lost the 2007 (ODI) World Cup - we were in West Indies - he came up to me & Mahendra Singh Dhoni and said, ‘look, I know we all are upset, let's go for a movie. We went for the movie and then we had half an hour to ask him things. He said, yes, we lost this World Cup, we wanted to make a difference, but this is not the end of it; life is much bigger; we will come back tomorrow. That's the kind of character he is. He is always looking to put any cricketer in a positive frame of mind. If unfortunately (in Sri Lanka), anyone goes out of form, he will be the first one to guide him and give him confidence."

The Indian cricket team's six-match limited-overs series against Sri Lanka was on Friday rescheduled owing to a Covid-19 outbreak in the home team camp, with the first ODI now starting on July 17 instead of July 13.

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