Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik praised India coach Rahul Dravid for his humble nature while recalling an interesting anecdote about the former cricketer. Under Dravid’s guidance, Team India has been unbeaten in 6 matches in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023.
Rahul Dravid has been credited for creating a huge pool of players for the Indian team to choose from. It began right when he was the NCA chief and then became the U19 Indian team coach. Since then, Dravid has focused on creating backups for the first-choice Indian team players.
This has resulted in India being able to field two different, yet competent teams simultaneously and win matches in dominating fashion.
Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik shared a personal anecdote, reflecting on how the former India captain's workman-like learning attitude is taking Indian cricket to new heights.
Talking on the Pakistan news channel 'A Sports', Malik said it's the selfless approach of Dravid that is helping him do well in his role as India coach, especially having worked his way up from the time he was appointed India under-19 coach.
"We were traveling from Pakistan to New Zealand. At the same time (on the same flight), the Indian under-19 team was traveling. Rahul Dravid was the under-19 coach then. I was sleeping, and he waited for two hours for me to wake up because he wanted to speak to me. He wanted to ask me 'You have made so many comebacks, what motivates you?'. He said, 'I am coaching the under-19 team, so I want to tell them what's the psyche behind this,” Malik said.
"So, what I am trying to say through this is that he has no ego. He wanted to learn what you go through (while trying to make a comeback). In his own career, he has seen lots of ups and downs. So, he asked me and I told him. I liked that a lot. The learning process never ends and look where the Indian team is standing today (under Rahul Dravid),” Malik added.
Though Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma were criticized for experimenting with the Indian playing XIs. But that experimentation and preparation bore fruits at the right time for India, as they are unbeaten in the ongoing ICC World Cup.
