New Delhi: Before Daljit Singh became India’s most famous pitch curator, there was a time when he used to be a prominent coach. A former BCCI chief curator, Singh recently revealed how someone like Rahul Dravid succeeded in his game despite not having bookish techniques.
“Earlier BCCI used to have coaching programs for U-16 and U-19 teams and they would be in Bangalore. So, for two years I was made the chief coach of U-16 and U-19. And I remember young players like (VVS) Laxman and Rahul Dravid — they all came through those camps. So I did that stint,” Singh was quoted as saying by Sportskeeda.
“There was a camp in the 1990s, (Mohammed) Azharuddin leading India to England. A two-week camp was held in Bangalore, I was one of the coaches for the Indian team preparing them for the English tour. So that was the coaching experience, very rewarding,” he added.
The veteran also revealed how people would tell him about young Dravid stating, ‘He would never become a good cricketer’. “I never pushed any player for bookish knowledge and bookish technique. I tried to build on the strength of the player. Like Rahul Dravid when he started, a lot of people told me that his bat is coming from outside, it is a crooked backlift, he will not succeed,” Singh said of Dravid, who is famously known as ‘The Wall’ in the world.
“I had a good chat with him. I asked him if he can manage the incoming ball well and he replied that it was not a problem. So, we started testing him in the nets. In fact, he played the incoming ball better than any other ball. So, he had adjusted so well and he did so well with that backlift.” Dravid went on to represent India in 164 Test matches, finishing with the second-highest run tally of 13288 runs, behind only to Sachin Tendulkar.
