[WATCH] Rahul Dravid gets heartwarming welcome as he joins Rajasthan Royals High Performance Centre
Former Indian coach Rahul Dravid received a hero's welcome as he joined the Rajasthan Royals High Performance Centre. It was Dravid's first visit to the facility after recently becoming the head coach of the franchise.
The High Performance Centre is located in Talegaon, Maharashtra, and is the home of the Royals. It consists of 14 cricket wickets, indoor nets, a gymnasium, and a swimming pool. The facility runs a seven-day camp once a month for all boys and girls, aged seven and above.
The camp includes cricket coaching, and mental strengthening sessions and helps budding players work on their diet as well. Its recent camp kickstarted on Sunday (Sept. 22) and will run till Saturday (Sept. 28).
The Royals management arranged a special welcome for Rahul Dravid during their training camp. Boys, clad in military uniforms, did a parade to celebrate Dravid's arrival after a long time. Along with participating in the parade, one of the girls could be seen applying tilak to Dravid's forehead.
Check out the video posted by Royals below:
Rahul Dravid's storied history with Rajasthan Royals
After his successful stint as the Indian men's team head coach, Rahul Dravid will return to the Rajasthan Royals after 10 years in IPL 2025. He was a part of the Royals from 2011 to 2015; however, he played for the franchise only for the first three years. In 46 appearances for the Royals, Dravid garnered 1,276 runs at an average of 29.67, with seven fifties.
He served as the team's captain in the 2012 and 2013 seasons, while being the team director and mentor in the 2014 and 2015 seasons. During this time, the franchise reached the playoffs in the 2013 and 2015 seasons.
Meanwhile, the Royals have improved their performances in the last few seasons under the leadership of Sanju Samson. They have reached the playoffs in two out of the last three seasons while ending as runner-ups in 2022. However, the title still eludes them, as they have failed to calm their nerves in crunch moments. The side will hope Rahul Dravid's arrival can change their fortunes.