With U-19 World Cup win done, coach Dravid says the boys should focus on playing men’s cricket
As the India team arrived for their first press conference at home after their triumphant campaign in the ICC U-19 World Cup, their high-profile coach Rahul Dravid went straight to the chairs lying next to the dais.
The players took to the stage and got photographed with the coveted trophy. Once the photographers were done shooting the team, Dravid along with his support staff joined the youngsters and posed for a happy picture before taking on the questions from the journalists.
For Dravid, it has always been about the process and development, whether as a cricketer or as a coach of 'A' or U-19 teams. He sees success as a by-product of the same.
Even as he goes about the job, he is intense but calms down and gets relaxed once the assignment is successfully completed.
Dravid looked a happy and a satisfied man as he spoke to the media. "I'm really happy that the 15 boys got to wear the World Cup medal. They deserve it. It's been a lot of sacrifices, the way they played in the World Cup," the former India captain said on Monday.
"The way they jelled, the quality of cricket they played – all these give you a lot of satisfaction. We were under pressure in a few games, but there were people who stood up and delivered," he added.
More than the success, Dravid was happy with the process that was followed in the run up to the World Cup. "The real satisfaction is about the whole process that was followed in the last 15 to 16 months. The planning and preparation of developing players is a good process we have put in place. We need to keep refining and developing this process."
The 45-year-old is happy that the cricketers have got through the experiences before getting onto the bigger stage.
"As kids, they have had experiences which should hold them in good stead for an entire lifetime. To play in front of big crowd, matches which are televised and play a high-pressure final is something huge," Dravid said. "The fact that they have got this reception and they are fronting up to the media is a big experience for these boys. But, the real test begins now and I have spoken to the boys about that."
Dravid was of the view that the current youngsters should now focus on playing men's cricket. "My view is quite well-known. I feel that once the boys are good enough, they should go on to play men's cricket, especially those who have played first-class cricket. Five boys from last year's World Cup qualified to play this time. But we made a conscious decision not to pick them as I felt it will be better for them to play U-23 cricket and senior men's cricket."
As the presser came to an end, Dravid was asked if the pain of not lifting a World Cup with the senior team was subdued after winning this one. He said: "I don't carry any pains. I have no regrets. I am done with my career."
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