Ahead of three T20Is against New Zealand, India’s newly appointed vice-captain KL Rahul said on Monday that the new head coach coach Rahul Dravid will bring up a culture with hi, where players will play for the team ahead of their personal achievement.
The vice-captain spoke about his experience with Dravid in the India A team and the coach’s vision for the Indian cricket team.
“When it comes to coaching, I’ve played a couple of games with the India A set-up [under Dravid], and we’ve had a small chat just before coming out here for training, and he’s somebody who’s big on setting a good team culture and creating an atmosphere where people are thriving and trying to get better as people and as cricketers,” said Rahul in a press conference ahead of the first T20 on Wednesday.
“He’s always been a team man when he was playing, and that’s the kind of culture he wants to bring in here as well, where everyone’s putting the team ahead of personal goals,” he added.
Rahul said that he is very lucky to know Rahul Dravid for a long time as he represented Karnataka in the domestic cricket.
He feels it’ll be a great opportunity for Indian cricketers to learn from the batting great and get better as cricketers.
“I’ve been very fortunate that I’ve known him for a very long time. Obviously, as a youngster I did try and pick his brain and I did understand the game better, and understand the art of batting better from [having talked to] him, and he’s been more than kind and he’s been very helpful to all of us back home in Karnataka,” said India opener.
“Obviously since he’s finished playing he’s been [coaching] different teams and he’s been helping the boys around the country, so to have him here with this set-up is a great opportunity for all of us to learn from him. We all know what a big name Rahul Dravid is in Indian cricket and the kind of things he has done for our country.
The first between India and New Zealand will be played on November 17 followed by second and third on November 19 and 21.
