Rahul Dravid is sharing all his experiences with us, says U-19 star Avesh Khan
Avesh Khan, India Under-19 team’s bowler has talked about how their coach Rahul Dravid is preparing the team for every kind of match situation. Khan also said that Dravid’s advise had helped him in opener match of the ongoing tri-series in Kolkata.
The 18-year-old pacer told The Times of India, “Dravid told me to bowl stump to stump and that is what I tried to do. He is sharing with us all his experiences. He is telling us bowlers what to do from a batsman's point of view.
“When we got out for 158 today morning, he did not say anything about winning or losing. He told us to go out there and give our hundred percent.” Khan with his bowling figures of 4/4 played a key role in his team’s 82 run win against Bangladesh.
Khan knew defending the total they scored wasn’t going to be easy. “The total was a small one, so it was tough defending it. It was necessary to take early wickets, otherwise we would have been in trouble,” he added.
He bagged Bangladeshi opener Saif Hassan’s wicket in the very first ball of their innings. Talking about that delivery he said, “It was a normal delivery. I did not try to do much, did not want to give him room.”
The 18-year-old from Indore also said that he owes his success to Amay Khurasiya, a former India cricketer who has coached Khan. He said, “Whatever I am today, it is all because of him (Khurasiya).”
Bangladesh’s skipper Mehedy Hassan Miraz expressed his disappointment at the poor performance of his team’s batsmen. He said, “As a bowling and fielding unit we were very good today. We started off really well with the ball to get them out for 158.
“But then we lost early wickets. We were also in a bit of a rush it seemed from the shot-making. Our batsmen just failed to produce runs today.”
Talking about the pitch Miraz added, “It is a very good wicket. It has something in it for the spinners and the pacers as well. We have been playing well in the last few games. But this was a new pitch and new ground so we had problems adjusting in the first game. It was, however, a very poor batting display.”
Not only Khan, previously his captain Ricky Bhui had also praised Rahul Dravid. “We have been keenly following whatever he (Dravid) has been telling us. He is a man with so much knowledge, therefore, it adds a lot to our game. He is helping us prepare both technically and mentally,” he had told reporters.