'Give Him a Fair Opportunity to Rebuild India,' Urges Former South Africa Captain
India have been knocked out of two ICC tournaments under Rahul Dravid
In a recent interview with the Times of India, former South Africa captain Graeme Smith expressed his support for Indian head coach, Rahul Dravid and highlighted the need for him to be given a fair opportunity to rebuild the team. Smith also identified the biggest challenge of the legendary cricketer as the head coach of the Indian cricket team.
Graeme Smith backs Rahul Dravid to rebuild Indian team
Smith acknowledged the immense talent and depth of players in Indian cricket, stating that India has the potential to form two or three formidable teams. He highlighted the significant challenges Dravid faces as a leader, particularly in managing multiple squads, tour schedules, and different formats of the game.
"When you get involved in a leadership role in Indian cricket, the expectation is something that you are going to have to come to terms with. There’s a huge quality of players. India can put two or three teams together. The biggest challenge in India for a leader is balancing those squads, balancing your tour schedules, the different formats, and those are some of the biggest decisions that are coming ahead of Rahul and his selection team," said Smith.
The South African holds Dravid in high regard, describing him as a man of great character and a performer of exceptional quality. Given Dravid's accomplishments and capabilities, Smith believes it is imperative to grant him a fair opportunity to rebuild the Indian team.
"He’s a quality man and a quality performer. He’s shown it right through as a coach. So, you’ve got to give him a fair opportunity now to kind of rebuild India," added the erstwhile Protean opener.
Under Dravid's guidance, Team India reached the semi-finals of the ICC T20 World Cup and secured a spot in the final of the ICC World Test Championship. However, their quest for an ICC title has been elusive since their victory in 2013.
The Indian side suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of England in the T20 World Cup 2022, while Australia registered a dominant 209-run victory over India recently in the WTC final at The Oval.
Meanwhile, after a month-long hiatus, the Men in Blue will engage in a two-match Test series against the West Indies next month. Additionally, they are scheduled to play three ODIs and five T20Is against the Caribbean team in July.
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