Trained Under ‘The Wall’: Dravid’s Boys Rule IPL 2020

Developing an entire generation of young cricketers of this country into world-class players - IPL 2020 and the Dravid Effect.

By Mohammad Ahsan Sayeed On Oct 6, 2020 Last updated Oct 6, 2020

The young guns of Rajasthan Royals chased down Kings XI Punjab’s massive total of 224 ( not forgetting Rahul Tewatia’s 5 sixes in the 18th over). Sanju Samson’s strike of 32 balls 74 (a four and Nine Sixes) made CSK suffer. Devdutt Padikkal’s three fifties out of his four innings made Brad Hogg remark as the best batting performance he’s ever seen, and this list of exciting and sometimes nail-biting moments from the 13th edition of the Indian premier league goes on.

What hits the spotlight is the young and fearless ethos of the tournament.

Some of the finest new talents in Indian cricket has got the eyes of cricket lovers and netizens, going a step further the spotlight turns onto “the wall” of Indian cricket Rahul Dravid.

Cricketers like Sanju Samson (RR), Rishabh Pant(DC), Prithvi Shaw(DC), Shreyas Iyer (DC), Mayank Agarwal (KXIP), Devdutt Padikkal (RCB), Shubman Gill (KKR), Navdeep Saini (RCB), Kamlesh Nagarkoti (KKR), Ishan Kishan (MI), all have displayed an abundance of determination and skill-show and all have trained under Rahul Dravid.

What's common between Shaw, Mayank, Iyer, Pant, Padikkal, Samson, Gill, Saini, Nagarkoti, Ishan Kishan? All trained under one and only Rahul Dravid. #IPL2020
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) October 3, 2020

A classy innings by any of the youngsters win praise to Sir Dravid.

A treasure to the Indian cricket team and without a second thought, one of the best coaches Indian team has ever received. Known for his simple, dignified, down to earth personality who has selflessly nurtured the young Indian cricket.

Rahul Dravid, a great batsman of his era, currently heads the National Cricket Association (NCA). As a head coach, he has nurtured both India A and Under-19 teams.

Dravid has also been honoured with the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan award, India’s fourth and third highest civilian awards.

Ministry of Information & Broadcasting: Padma Awards:Photo Gallery — The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Padma Bhushan Award to Shri Rahul Dravid, at an Investiture Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on April 05, 2013. |credit: wikipedia|

He has even been the head coach for the two IPL franchise, Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Daredevils ( now Delhi Capitals). At a webinar hosted by the Deccan Herald, Dravid spoke how IPL plays a significant role in bringing out young talents from across the country, turning the contest as an excellent showcase of fresh skills and a fearless challenge while they play alongside the big names in international cricket.

“The fact of the matter is none of the domestic sport actually generate any revenue, in fact, it costs a lot of money to hold domestic events. So if you want to give young boys and girls, the opportunity to play, then you must give them opportunities to express their talent.” Dravid spoke on IPL: as a big revenue generator.

Kerala wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson expressed how Dravid gave him the freedom to express himself while playing.

“I Have learn almost everything from Dravid Sir”
-Samson

IPL”s overall impact on the domestic cricket and its model of creating teams, that includes both International stars and local aspirants, has provided a supreme platform to the new age Indian Cricketers, providing confidence, making them skilled and fearless in their approach.

Rahul Dravid even asks for domestic talent in the coaching area as well.

His personal opinion is that IPL “Misses the trick” by not using in the domestic talent in the coaching area, even if it is the position of assistant coaches.

An unsung hero indeed, he is developing an entire generation of young cricketers of this country into world-class players.