Rahul Dravid is helping us prepare both technically and mentally, says India U-19 captain

India’s fielding coach said that the players are going through a learning process under Dravid

Captain of India’s Under-19 cricket team Ricky Bhui is all praise for their coach Rahul Dravid. He said The Wall not only teaches them cricket’s technicalities but also how to prepare mentally.

Bhui who is currently in Kolkata to play a tri-series told reporters, “We have been keenly following whatever he (Dravid) has been telling us. He is a man with so much knowledge, therefore, it adds a lot to our game. He is helping us prepare both technically and mentally.” Not only India’s U-19 captain, their fielding coach Abhay Sharma also talked highly of the former Indian senior team captain. He said, “Dravid is a man with a vision. The kids are growing through a learning process. So Dravid does not enforce anything on them instead he makes them realise how to go about things.”

Sharma also said that their main aim right now is to build cricketers who will be good in all three formats of the game. Sharma said, “Modern day cricket is changing, we have Tests, One-Day and now T20s. So we are building cricketers to play according to the formats.”

The captain also feels that this tournament will be their perfect time to look at loopholes and build his team’s strength for World Cup 2016. He said, “This is an opportunity to prove our talent and skills. We would want to win the tournament and make the country proud. It is also a platform to work hard and settle in before the World Cup.”

Bhui’s team will play against Under-19 teams of Afghanistan and Bangladesh in this tournament that has started from today. In the first match India is playing against Bangladesh. The Bangladesh team has won four consecutive series against South Africa (home and away), Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh captain Mehedy Hasan Miraz said that they are receiving a lot of support from Bangladesh Cricket Board. He said, “The professional cricketing set up in Bangladesh is improving. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is supporting us a lot. The national side doing well in turn is motivating us to play great cricket.

Even senior cricketers like Shakib Al Hasan are coming and helping us out.” He also believes there will be no added pressure on the team during U-19 World Cup which will be held in Bangladesh. Miraz said, “We have been playing as a team for the last three-four years now, so we know each other well. There will be no pressure on us.”