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Rahul Dravid reveals what motivated him to invest himself in junior cricket

The 44-year-old talks to Aditya Chaturvedi about his approach to coaching junior cricketers:

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Rahul Dravid
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While most of his contemporaries are busy either commentating, dabbling in various sports leagues or embarking upon careers as administrators, former India captain Rahul Dravid has been grinding it out as coach of India 'A' and Under-19 teams to give the country its next batch of match-winners. The 44-year-old talks to Aditya Chaturvedi about his approach to coaching junior cricketers:

What motivated you to invest yourself in junior cricket?

I really enjoyed my coaching and mentorship stint with the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL). It was nice to interact with some of the younger players and share my experiences with them. So, when the opportunity came up, I thought it would be a good idea to start with the Under-19 and 'A' levels. Also, I must be honest, junior cricket doesn't require as much time away from home as say the national team does. So, I guess it worked out both ways: I enjoy working with this age group and it also isn't as time-consuming.

Since you're coaching both the India 'A' and Under-19 teams, how does your approach differ for both the jobs?

The approach would differ in the sense that at the India 'A' level, you're working with more experienced players, players who are at the cusp of playing for India. At that stage in their careers, they already have a method or formula that's successful. Else they wouldn't have made it that far. So as a coach, you're not tinkering with them too much. You're simply guiding and helping them. I find myself talking to them more about tactical stuff and making strategies to deal with the mental aspect of the game. Whereas with the Under-19 team, it can be slightly different. You can have a little more technical inputs involved as they're still at a developmental stage in their careers. Even though I don't like over-coaching or getting over-technical, there is still some scope for suggestions and reinforcements in terms of technique. Not saying that you don't have any technical input at the India A level, but it's definitely less.

How satisfied are you with your stint in junior cricket thus far?

The last one-and-a-half years have truly been an enjoyable experience. I think I've got to learn as much as anything else. I've got to see so many young talents in this country that have amazed me. Being a part of their journey has been very satisfying. However, even though you want them to succeed, you're always mindful of the fact that not all of them will get to represent the senior team. So, as long as they're here, you want to make sure that they have a good experience and learn something. And if you can do that, I guess there's not much more you can ask for.

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