Dravid prepares Indian U-19 team

Rahul Dravid, coach of India’s U-19 team, said preparations for the ICC U-19 World Cup should have started much earlier, reports India Today.
Former India captain Rahul Dravid said coaching the Indian Under-19 team has given him a better perspective of the game and he has been able to learn a lot about cricket even after retiring as one of the most successful No.3 batsmen in history.
 Dravid, who scored 13288 Test and 10889 ODI runs, retired after India’s disastrous tour of Australia in 2012. He was appointed coach of India’s U-19 team this year and ‘The Wall’ said it has been an interesting phase.
 “It is interesting being a coach you learn about a lot more things than as a player. As a player and as a batsman, your focus is on the batting side of things and you don’t pay as much attention to bowling,” Dravid told bcci.tv
 “Coming in as a coach, I have been having conversations with our bowling coaches and the bowlers, and I have learnt quite a few things about bowling definitely. I have obviously been very curious and inquisitive about batting right through my career. So it is interesting as you get a better overall perspective about the game than you do as a player and especially as a specialist batsman.”
 Dravid, who was part of the selection committee that picked the Indian U-19 squad for the World Cup in Bangladesh from January 27 to February 14, said the young players would need to play good cricket as they are in a tough group.
 Dravid said the squad, led by Ishan Kishan is well-balanced. He said he was looking for different skill sets and consequently included a good blend of pacers, spinners and all-rounders. Dravid feels it’s a solid mix for Bangladeshi conditions.
 This will be Dravid’s first World Cup as coach and he is understandably happy with the way the team has performed. India’s U-19 team has been unbeaten in the Kolkata as well as Sri Lanka tri-series. But the coach is worried that the preparations for the showpiece event started rather late.

Dravid prepares Indian U-19 team

Rahul Dravid, coach of Indias U-19 team, said preparations for the ICC U-19 World Cup should have started much earlier, reports India Today. Former India captain Rahul Dravid said coaching the Indian Under-19 team has given him a better perspective of the game and he has been able to learn a lot about cricket even after retiring as one of the most successful No.3 batsmen in history. Dravid, who scored 13288 Test and 10889 ODI runs, retired after Indias disastrous tour of Australia in 2012. He was appointed coach of Indias U-19 team this year and The Wall said it has been an interesting phase. It is interesting being a coach you learn about a lot more things than as a player. As a player and as a batsman, your focus is on the batting side of things and you dont pay as much attention to bowling, Dravid told bcci.tv Coming in as a coach, I have been having conversations with our bowling coaches and the bowlers, and I have learnt quite a few things about bowling definitely. I have obviously been very curious and inquisitive about batting right through my career. So it is interesting as you get a better overall perspective about the game than you do as a player and especially as a specialist batsman. Dravid, who was part of the selection committee that picked the Indian U-19 squad for the World Cup in Bangladesh from January 27 to February 14, said the young players would need to play good cricket as they are in a tough group. Dravid said the squad, led by Ishan Kishan is well-balanced. He said he was looking for different skill sets and consequently included a good blend of pacers, spinners and all-rounders. Dravid feels its a solid mix for Bangladeshi conditions. This will be Dravids first World Cup as coach and he is understandably happy with the way the team has performed. Indias U-19 team has been unbeaten in the Kolkata as well as Sri Lanka tri-series. But the coach is worried that the preparations for the showpiece event started rather late.