Former India skipper says performing in U-19 level doesn’t guarantee spot in senior team
Cricket legend and current coach of India’s U-19 team Rahul Dravid played down the importance of winning the World Cup and said the real aspiration for the colts should be to see this as a step in their long cricketing journey.
The former India captain was talking ahead of the team’s departure for the 16-team event where India are grouped with Ireland, Nepal and New Zealand.
“My message to them is to take this opportunity to improve and get better and to learn and grow as a cricketer. They need to see this event as an exposure to play in a foreign land,” Dravid said.
“They should see this as one step in their journey as cricketers. Nobody wants to end up just being an U-19 player. That is not the aspiration of anybody in this dressing room. Everyone wants to go and play for India and play a World Cup for India at a senior level.”
Dravid said performing only in the U-19 World Cup would not get players required recognition from selectors.
“I keep reminding them that there are enough example of players who played U-19s but failed to make a mark at the senior level. And conversely, there are very good examples of players who have gone on to represent India after playing U-19s. From here, you have to go and score at the first class and domestic level and then get that recognition from the selectors.”
The 43-year-old, who also is the coach of the India A team, said a lot has changed since his days as an U-19 player, but not the ambition to play for India.
“When I look back, one thing that has not changed is the ambition to play for India. But just the level of exposure this boys have today, the level of professionalism they show for an U-19 cricketer as well the quality of support staff they have is incredible. The number of camps have gone up. This is the big difference from our time where we used to have one national camp. There was not even a World Cup in my time as a U-19 cricketer.”
Dravid called for more U-19 tournaments for those who missed out on the World Cup squad as the event is held every two years.
“There will always be one batch that will be 19 next year, which potentially doesn’t get that kind of exposure. And that is something we need to focus on because there are a bunch of guys who didn’t get to play any matches as there was no World Cup.
“There should be lot of U-19 tournaments. It shouldn’t be about the best 15 that we pick for the World Cup. If we have two or three tours a year then we can focus on the other kids, who are not part of the World Cup squad. You can never actually say which one of those players can go on and play for India. The players who have missed out might go back to domestic cricket and improve. So, whether these 15 are going to be the best in two years, history tells us not necessary so.”
Dravid, who did not win a World Cup as a player, is not looking to win the tournament for himself.
“The beauty of being a coach is that it’s not in my hand. I know how much a coach can influence and impact a result and I’m realistic about that. It’s in the players’ hands now.”
