I see this as an opportunity to work with young players says Rahul Dravid

I see this as an opportunity to work with young players says Rahul Dravid: The man with two new roles and those in the area he likes to work, Rahul Dravid should certainly been a happy man as he is appointed the Coach of the India A and U-19 team.

Dravid said that he is really excited with the role and that his role will be a really important one for the upcoming players. He was quoted by ESPNcricinfo saying: “I think it is really exciting because it has been an area I have always been interested in. I feel it is a very important stage of development of a lot of cricketers, having been through myself,”

He added that, “I am just hoping that having experienced being on A tours and being with an Indian Under-19 team, I will probably be able to help some of these young cricketers on their journey,”

Would he like to use this as an opportunity and show the Board that he is ready to take up the bigger responsibility, the role of the Coach of the Indian team, Dravid said: “I don’t see this as any stepping stone, I just see this as an opportunity to work with young players over the next few months, six weeks of an A tour and may be six or seven weeks, with the Under-19 team. This is all I see it as,”

“More than anything this is something that really interests me, working hands on with young talent and obviously the fact that it is not as encompassing as say a national coach’s job is. It makes it a really good fit for me,” he said.

How does he see the appointment of the trio of Sachin, Sourav and VVS along with him as the Coach of the two junior teams, “I have put forward what I think might be the best structure to help the A team and the Under-19 team and in the end help the player and give them the best environment and best opportunity that gives them the best chance to be able to put in performances that help their future, their careers and bring on the next generation of young Indian cricketers,” Dravid said.

“(Tendulkar, Ganguly and Laxman) are going to be around. We are definitely going to dip into their vast knowledge and experiences at various stages.”

The Legend further added that he will make sure he is in touch with the Indian team management including team Director Ravi Shastri so as to try and develop young players and performers as per the requirements of the team.

“I hope to be able to work closely with Ravi (Shastri), his support staff and the national selectors and just to find out from them what they see as the next generation of cricketers coming through. “A lot of this is about working with people, domestic and Ranji Trophy coaches to help build the next generation of good young Indian cricketers,” he said.