Rahul Dravid admits he got a better overall perspective of cricket as coach

Rahul Dravid feels that he has learnt so much about the game even after retiring by coaching the under-19 side of India. He told about his experience in an interview with BCCI.tv.

“It is interesting being a coach you learn about a lot more things than as a player. As a player and as a batsman, your focus is on the batting side of things and you don't pay as much attention to bowling.”

Rahul said that he learned a lot about the bowling side of the game and was happy to understand the game in an overall perspective rather than just the batting part of the sport.

"Coming in as a coach, I have been having conversations with our bowling coaches and the bowlers, and I have learnt quite a few things about bowling definitely. I have obviously been very curious and inquisitive about batting right through my career. So it is interesting as you get a better overall perspective about the game than you do as a player and especially as a specialist batsman.”

Dravid feels that his team needs to be really good in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup as they are in a difficult group. He commented, "Look, India are in a tough group with two full members side and Nepal, who have done well at the U19 level. We will have to play very good cricket.”

"In a tight group like ours with only three games, there is no chance for even a single slip-up. I think most teams are going to be well prepared. Australia and New Zealand have been preparing for a long time, so we know we have our work cut out.”

According to Dravid, the team is well balanced and has a good mix of pacers, spinners and all-rounders and feels that this team led by Ishan Kishan. Dravid thinks that the team is fit for Bangladeshi conditions.

He concluded, “It is just a pity that because our preparations started late, we haven't had a chance to give more people an opportunity. I would have loved to give more opportunities and would have loved to rotate the squad a lot more.”

This will be Dravid’s first World Cup as a coach and according to him that the preparations started a little though Indian Under-19 team has performed brilliantly under him and have won in Kolkata as well as the tri-series in Sri Lanka.