I have
always followed U19 cricket world cups ever since I got some knowledge about
the game I love. Every time when an U19 WC arrives, we always look for the next
superstar; a childhood prodigy, someone who's gonna take the world by storm!
The star doesn't arrive every two years
though. But every time we find some promising talent for the future.The likes of Yuvraj,
Virat, Jadeja, Sharma and many others for India or Smith, Williamson, Southee, Holder and a few others for other
countries. The backbone of the senior team has emerged from U19 cricket more
often than not in the past decade.
I wondered at the audacity of Unmukt Chand in
2012 and Sanju Samson in 2014. They are now trying to prove their worth in the domestic circuit. This time around the wonder boy to look for is Sarfaraz Khan. I got to know about him much before his Indian Premier League blitz. It was when he got selected for last U19 WC to be precise.
He had a couple of good matches in United Arab Emirates. I hope he takes the centre stage
this time around.
I am
keen to see the young players on field this year. But I am even more excited
about another kid. A kid who just turned 43, who has taken the responsibility
for the country off the field, like he did throughout his career on the field.
Yes, am really excited to see how Rahul Dravid goes about the tournament with
this bunch of youngsters.
I am sure he is very clear about giving
chances to everyone and making the most out of the squad he has got. He has a
vision and clarity which was visible in his MAK PATAUDI lecture. For a kid who
have played cricket and wanted to become a cricketer at some part of his child
hood, his speech was their life-time experience. Certainly mine.
I have
played competitive cricket at college level. Being a captain, the team had always come first in whatever decisions I made then. Still, deep inside his
speech was my realization what more good I could have done with the players who
warmed the bench most times. May be I was a bit too rigid in not rotating the
players. I don't have any regrets about the way I played the game and lead the
team. But something did got me thinking, about what more I could have done.
In the press conference before leaving to Bangladesh Rahul clearly mentioned that winning the world cup is not the end of all. If some of these players go on to play for the senior team, then that will be the most pleasing thing for him. For a man who has always been referred as "The team man", to be so selfless even as a coach is unbelievable.
His perspective towards the game is something that I admire the most. We all follow the game of cricket for the purest form of Joy it gives us. When we hear him saying that coaching is not just about technique, it's about making them realise the magic of the game and the joy it gives, it is more than just pleasing.
In his new avatar as coach, He has already won a few tournaments for U19 and India A teams. I am keen to see how these young kids
make use of this invaluable personality around them. It feels bad when we know
Dravid didn't have a champion medal whilst playing. Hope he gets one this time
around as the Coach of the Indian Under 19 cricket team. Good luck Jammy !..
