6 Keys that could make Rahul Dravid a Great Coach

 

At the outset let me tell you that I am a huge fan of Rahul Dravid. Irrespective of which team you support the world over people, commentators, former players and current players all admire this man. I want to congratulate Rahul Dravid for being appointed as the Head Coach of the Indian cricket team. He is taking over a team which has performed exceptionally well over the last few years. So the heat is on and the onus is on Dravid to take the team to the next level. I believe he has it in him to become a great coach.

One of the things I want to make clear is that being a great player doesn't necessarily warrant them to be a great coach. However in Dravid's case I think he has all the qualities needed to be an outstanding coach. One of the keys is his ability to get along with everyone and likeability factor.

The reason Rahul Dravid is so likable is his even-headedness. I think one of the best compliments Rahul got was in 2007 when he handled the bad press and public ire when the team was ousted in the first round of the World cup with immaculate temperament. As Martin Luther King noted "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” Rahul Dravid after the defeat said, "That’s the beauty of sport" and he was graceful in defeat. He even went to Tamim Iqbal and congratulated the young man for his innings which took the game away from India. Grace is measured and displayed by how you behave when things don't go your way.

Sachin Tendulkar is a genius not everybody can emulate him, but Rahul Dravid can be used as a role model for his perseverance, grit, determination, never say die attitude, hunger to keep on improving (this is evident in his ODI career evolving), and practice. Finally, he does have talent though not as talented as a Lara or Tendulkar, but he has maximised his potential which is the most that we can ask from anyone. I wish him great luck on his next journey as a coach. He has already shown success through his coaching of the Indian Under-19 team. The track record is there and now it is time to make it even bigger.

The great Imran Khan said that there are T's to succeed in test cricket. They are talent, temperament, and technique. For Twenty Twenty talent is enough but for test cricket all three are needed. Dravid has all the three especially technique and temperament in abundance. There are times when Dravid has struggled. Especially in the 2007 Australian tour he was totally out of form but that’s the measure of the man that even in those innings he used to play a minimum of 100 balls which means he was trying his hardest even when he was finding it tough. Truly when the going gets tough the tough get going and Rahul Dravid is one such person who has seen it all and is an amazing role model for all. Here are the keys that made Dravid a huge success.

Discipline – Of course Rahul Dravid epitomizes this quality more than anyone else I have seen. He is ruthless about training and preparation. He was one of the cricketers who played more than 90 test matches in succession from his debut. That shows his consistency and discipline. The Indian team has to be prepared for long slogs at workouts with Dravid at the helm. He is going to bring enormous discipline and only the truly fit can survive under his tenure.

Responsibility – This was especially shown in his capability to handle multiple demands of the team. He volunteered to take the wicket keeping role as that would deepen the batting side of the team. It is not easy to manage multiple demands unless you have the overall team in picture. I could say this is Level 5 leadership in action. He would expect the same from all the players to be flexible in the interest of the team.

Attitude – In the initial phase of his career he struggled in the shorter format of the game. However, he learned the tricks of the trade and eventually he even scored the most number of runs in the 1999 World Cup in England. This showed a great attitude towards learning and epitomizes the growth mindset that Carol Dweck mentions in her book of the same name. Team India has to remember that you may not always play in the same batting position with Dravid at the helm. He is not going to go and be satisfied with the status quo.

Very Nice – The best part is the fame of being a champion has not got to him. He has always maintained his composure and never let his fame get the better of him. He is known as a very nice person and carries himself well. In the world of short tweets and self-aggrandization Dravid stands as one of the few who walks his walk.

Inspiration – He is a true inspiration for all youngsters across any field. The reason is his example shows that talent is never enough. Talent must be mixed with discipline, drive, determination and dedication to win big. He truly made the most of his talent and serves as a true inspiration for everyone. I think this will give enormous hope for all budding youngsters that if you do work hard and show determination you will be considered to play for the country.

Dedication – For any of us to be successful we need to be dedicated just the way Dravid was to his career. Everyone will have to navigate tides of uncertainty, slips in form and hostile circumstances but what sets the champions apart is their ability to hang in there when the going gets tough. Dravid is one athlete who really dedicated himself to his field and the results have proven beyond doubt that he is one of the few to really make the most of his potential.

There you have it the few characteristics that made Dravid a legend. Now the question that's worth pondering is will this make Dravid a coaching legend. Only time can answer that question but one thing we can rest assured is Dravid will max out in terms of effort. So we are in a treat to see how Indian cricket shapes up in the future. I hope you enjoyed reading this article.

The views expressed here are my own and do not represent my organization.