Team India cricketer Sanju Samson feels lucky to learn cricket from former India captain Rahul Dravid. Incidentally, Dravid has been handed over the reins of the national side in the absence of Ravi Shastri for the upcoming Sri Lanka series.
The selectors have also picked a relatively young squad with the first choice cricketers busy with the Test series against England. In the same light, India’s ace batsman Shikhar Dhawan was given the charge of captaincy.
When #TeamIndia went
Lights ⚡️
Camera 📸
Action 🎬The excitement is building up ahead of the ODI series against Sri Lanka 👌 👌 #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/fo1HrkTR8B
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 14, 2021
Six uncapped cricketers are present on the tour and all have been quite excited to work under the guidance of Rahul Dravid who has been largely responsible for shaping the young Indian talents. Speaking on his association with Dravid, Sanju Samson stressed that they are lucky to work under the former India cricketer.
“Each and every individual in the India A side or the juniors going into the Indian team have been fortunate to go through a person called Rahul Dravid. We are very lucky to learn our cricket from him. I remember going to the Rajasthan Royals trials one day – I batted really well – and he came up to me and asked me a question ‘can you play for my team?’. So, that was the biggest moment of my life, and I can never forget that. That shows how great a human being he is, and I really enjoy his company,” said Samson speaking exclusively on STAR SPORTS’ SHOW FOLLOW THE BLUES.
It feels great to have Rahul Dravid as mentor: Devdutt Padikkal
Padikkal, who is on his first international tour, will be keen to cash in on the opportunity ahead of the T20 World Cup. The southpaw from Karnataka is looking forward to picking Rahul Dravid’s brain throughout the tour.
“Being from the same school, the first time I actually met him was in one of our sports day events at school, where I had to present him with a bouquet – that is when I spoke to him for the first time. I have always been awestruck by how incredibly calm and gentle a human being he is. To have achieved so much in cricket and to be so down-to-earth, humble, and kind towards everyone is incredible to watch.
To have him as our coach, you couldn’t ask for anything more, and to have a mentor like him beside you, it’s just a great feeling, and hopefully, I can pick up a lot of things from him,” said Padikkal about nature of Rahul Dravid.
India play three ODIs followed by the same number of T20Is at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
