Sri Lanka vs India: Salman Butt backs coach Rahul Dravid to shine in his first international assignment

For the first time in history, fans will see two different Indian cricket teams in action simultaneously. While the Virat Kohli-led Test team would be in England for a five-match Test series, a limited-overs team, under Shikhar Dhawan’s leadership, will play three ODIs and as many T20Is in Sri Lanka. The white-ball team comprises many young and inexperienced faces and it would be interesting to see how they perform in national colours.

They indeed have a great mentor in Rahul Dravid, who has been named India’s interim coach for the tour. While Dravid enjoyed a sensational run during his tenure as India A and India Under-19 coach, this will be his first assignment with the senior team and expectations are high from him. Former Pakistan opener Salman Butt has also backed the former Indian captain to groom the national team players with precision.

Spending time with Rahul Dravid will enhance youngsters’ future: Salman Butt

“I don’t think that there is any pressure (on Dravid). It is an opportunity for him to create future champions of Indian cricket. It is not necessary that everyone will get an opportunity to play in this series. But just spending time with Rahul and sharing his experiences, which is already done with a lot of players in the squad will just enhance their future,” Butt said on his YouTube channel.

“India are hiring specialists to train their players. Not only specialists in cricket skills, but also ones who are organisational specialists, who can guide teams in the right direction. Rahul Dravid has been the captain as well. And it wasn’t if he was the makeshift captain and or a failed leader, who was sacked. In fact, he was a successful skipper,” he added.

Notably, Ravi Shastri’s current contract as Team India head coach will expire after the T20 World Cup later this year. Hence, many believe that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is planning to make Dravid Shastri’s successor, and appointing him coach for the Sri Lanka tour is a hint for the same. Hence, many eyes would be on how Dravid manages the Men in Blue in the upcoming tour, which gets underway on July 13.