Rahul Dravid, the legendary cricketer and India’s current head coach has brought a unique perspective to his role. As he approaches his two-year mark as head coach, Dravid’s coaching philosophy revolves around empowering the captain and players to take charge once the game begins.
In a recent press conference, Rahul Dravid made it clear that, in his view, the captain plays a pivotal role once the game starts. Dravid’s philosophy places the captain at the helm of the team’s on-field decisions and execution. He believes the coach’s primary responsibility is to prepare the team for the challenges ahead.
Dravid’s journey as head coach involved meticulous planning and preparation in the lead-up to the World Cup. His objective was clear: assemble the best possible squad to contend for the prestigious trophy. Under his leadership, the team underwent a rigorous selection process to identify the top 15 players who could return to the World Cup in India after a 12-year wait.
“Honestly, once the game starts, it’s the captain’s team. The team needs to take it forward, and they need to execute it; they need to do the job. As a coach, I see my work in the lead-up to the games, in the lead-up to this World Cup, trying to get the squad we got eventually. Building up the team, building up the squad, and then hoping to allow the players to play and express themselves to have fun,” Dravid said in the press conference on Friday.
One of Dravid’s coaching tenure’s standout features is his willingness to empower the captain, Rohit Sharma, and the players. He has created an environment where players feel free to express themselves on the field. This approach encourages individual brilliance while fostering team unity.
Rahul Dravid’s association with the World Cup as a player has its history. He led the Indian team in the 2007 World Cup, an edition India would like to forget. The team’s early exit from the group stage following defeats against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka was a disappointing chapter in Indian cricket. Dravid acknowledges that it was in his past life as a player and has since moved on from those days.
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“It’s a long time since I was a player. I almost forgot that I was a cricket player at one stage, to be very honest with you,” the smile was a bit self-deprecating.
“I have moved on from that. I don’t think of myself as a player anymore. Maybe that’s the mind-space difference… I’m focused on helping the group to do the best they can. In the end, that’s the support staff’s job; the coach’s job is to support the captain’s vision and help him execute his vision throughout the next couple of months and hope we can do that well,” he added.
Dravid’s transition from player to coach has brought about a shift in mindset. He no longer sees himself as a player but as a coach focused on helping the current team achieve their best performance. His role, he emphasizes, is to support the captain’s vision and assist in its execution over the coming months.
