IPL 2016: JP Duminy backs Delhi Daredevils mentor Rahul Dravid as Team India coach
It seems that the clamour behind Rahul Dravid’s appointment for coaching Team India is getting stronger everyday. The Delhi Daredevils mentor has got the backing of another one of his team members in JP Duminy.
Speaking to Telegraph India, the South African batsman felt that Dravid would be the ideal person to guide India’s promising players into achieving their complete potential. The left-hander also reasoned that the iconic batsman’s experience of coaching the Indian U-19 and A teams will come handy in mentoring the Indian team.
Duminy opined, “Rahul has done his apprenticeship – Worked with India A and the India U-19s, Mentored teams in the IPL. He's through with the hard yards, now he has to make an important call.”
However, the 32-year old felt that everything was up to the man himself if he was interested in signing up for the top job. Duminy affirmed, “If Rahul himself wants the job, he's first got to have that desire.”
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Dravid is currently tasked with helping Delhi Daredevils reach the playoffs. But, he has already done an incredible job by leading the franchise’s resurgence alongside skipper Zaheer Khan from the disappointing performances in previous seasons.
The Cape Town-based cricketer credited the seasoned campaigner for turning their team’s fortunes around. Duminy affirmed, “It has been great. What stands out is Rahul's man-management skills.”
He added, “When a mentor or coach deals with international players, it's not about teaching technique. But, getting the best out of everybody. Rahul is aware of what is required, knows how to get the best out of the franchise's players.”
Duminy is not alone in lavishing praises on Dravid’s coaching methods. Acclaimed batting legends such as Sunil Gavaskar and Ricky Ponting too had asked the BCCI to rope in Rahul as Indian coach.
After an illustrious career in which he scored over 24,000 international runs across both Tests and ODIs, Dravid retired from the game in January 2012. It will be a huge boost for Indian cricket if the technically accomplished cricketer can take up the mantle of shepherding a young Indian team.