Challenging however nice enjoyable: Rahul Dravid on working with 6 totally different captains early in stint as India head coach

India head coach Rahul Dravid stated he didn’t count on to work with as many as 6 totally different captains early in his stint after taking up from Ravi Shastri because the answerable for the senior nationwide staff. Speaking forward of the fifth and ultimate T20I of the continuing sequence in opposition to South Africa, Dravid stated it has been an excellent problem for him, particularly in relation to workload administration within the Covid-19 occasions.

Rahul Dravid started his stint as head coach with Rohit Sharma on the helm throughout a house sequence in opposition to New Zealand final yr. The former India captain has labored with Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Shikhar Dhawan (in Sri Lanka final yr). Dravid has additionally labored with loads of younger names as vice-captains, together with Jasprit Bumrah.

While Rishabh Pant is captaining India for the primary time within the ongoing sequence in opposition to South Africa, Hardik Pandya will lead the staff when India tour Ireland later this month. VVS Laxman, the National Cricket Academy chief, will likely be India’s head coach for the Ireland T20Is.

Notably, Rohit Sharma was rested for the continuing sequence vs South Africa whereas KL Rahul, who was initially appointed as captain, was dominated out resulting from an harm.

“It’s been exciting. but it’s been challenging as well. 6 captains in the last 8 months which wasn’t the plan when I started out. But yeah, I think, it’s just the nature of the Covid-19 pandemic and the nature of the number of games we’re playing.

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“Obviously, you’re managing the squad and managing the workload, so there are sure to be a number of modifications within the captaincy as effectively.

“I have worked with quite a few captains which in itself is challenging but great fun. It’s an opportunity to create more leaders in the group as well. I think, as a group, we are learning. We need to get better, we are trying out and giving opportunities to a lot of people which is great,” Dravid instructed Star Sports on Sunday.

Dravid had made it clear that workload administration can be key within the lead as much as the 2 main tournaments, together with the T20 World Cup in Australia and the 50-over World Cup subsequent yr in India.

‘SOUTH AFRICA TEST SERIES LOSS A DISAPPOINTMENT’

Meanwhile, Dravid stated the one disappointment 8 months into his stint as head coach was the Test sequence defeat in South Africa earlier this yr.

Notably, India went 1-0 up within the 3-Test sequence however they misplaced the following 2 matches to lose the sequence following which they have been blanked 3-0 by South Africa within the ODI sequence underneath KL Rahul’s captaincy. However, India have been in nice type within the shortest format of the sport, successful in opposition to the West Indies, Sri Lanka and leveling the sequence in opposition to South Africa after their journey to the Rainbow Nation.

“If I look back at the last 8 months, South Africa was a little bit of a disappointment. In the Test series, we were 1-0 up there but we failed to win the series after that. It was a disappointment, especially with the World Test Championship cycle. But I think our white-ball cricket has been good. We were able to come back from there and get on a bit of a roll in the T20I games.

“Even within the sequence, we have now been capable of struggle again and present the character of the staff and the standard that we have now,” Dravid added.

Dravid will hyperlink up with the Indian Test squad for the one-off Test, which is a spillover from final yr’s incomplete Test sequence, in opposition to England. India and England will meet in Birmingham within the first Test from July 1 earlier than which India play a 4-day warm-up match in opposition to Leicestershire.