How coach Rahul Dravid is bridging the gap between domestic and international cricket
The HinduYou associate Rahul Dravid with resilience. As coach of the India under-19 and ‘A’ teams — he assumed charge in mid-2015 — Dravid has guided the next generation, honing their technique and, crucially, preparing them mentally for the challenges of international cricket. Last year, India ‘A’ visited England and New Zealand ahead of the Test series in England and Australia respectively; several cricketers on the ‘A’ tours played in the subsequent Tests. There is continuity, a natural progression of cricketers with promise from the under-19 level to the Ranji Trophy and then to the India ‘A’ set-up from where they can graduate to international cricket. Dilip Vengsarkar, former India captain and past chairman of BCCI’s successful Talent Resource Development Wing, said, “The ‘A’ team concept is good and Dravid has been doing a fine job.