Seeing India’s embarrassing defeat in eight wickets at the Adelaide Test, former India batsman Dilip Vengsarkar has urged the board to send Rahul Dravid to Australia with priority. Vengsarkar, former BCCI team chairman, believes Dravid’s coaching experience can be very beneficial to the team in the absence of Virat Kohli, who will no longer participate in the test series due to paternity leave.
Dravid, a former captain from India, who had a great series at the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2003/04, is just what the team needs right now, Vengsarkar feels.
Read also | ‘He’s a brave boy’, MSK Prasad wants India’s middle order hitter promoted in MCG test
“The BCCI must bring Dravid to Australia to help the team. No one can better guide hitters on how to play the ball on the move under those conditions, ”Vengsarkar told the Times of India. “His presence will be a great boost for the Indian team on the networks. Regardless, the NCA has been closed due to Covid for the past nine months, leaving you with little to do.
“The Board can make better use of Dravid by using his services to help the national team, which will be without skipper Virat Kohli from now on (last three rounds).”
Read also | ‘If Ishant Sharma is fit, send him to Australia now’, Sunil Gavaskar says Mohammed Shami injury could be ‘a big problem for India’
Dravid, currently serving as head of the NCA (National Cricket Academy), had a very successful season as coach of the India A and U19 teams, where under his tutelage the team won the U19 World Cup in New Zealand in 2018. In addition, it has played a key role in preparing the youngsters, especially Shubman Gill. Vengsarkar feels that BCCI should do whatever it takes to make sure Dravid is involved much more with the Indian team.
“Even if he has to serve a mandatory two-week quarantine period, he should be available to help the Indian team on the networks before the third test in Sydney, which will start on January 7. It is time that Dravid was asked to be more involved with the Indian team, ”he said.
.
