Rahul Dravid: India head coach opens up on tough selection calls

While critics will always find ways to raise questions, the job of a coach remains incredibly hard. When it comes to making selection calls, be it in the playing XI or for the squad as a whole, the coach often has to take difficult decisions and India national cricket team head coach Rahul Dravid opened up on such ‘tough’ selection calls.

Rahul Dravid said during an episode of ‘CRED Curious’ –

“You care for each of those people whom you coach, on a personal level as well and you’re trying to build personal connections. You want to coach them as people and not so much as cricket players. And when you do that, you want all of them to succeed.

“But at the same time, you’ve got to be realistic and realise that not all of them are going to succeed. At times you’ve got to make those tough and difficult decisions.

Rahul added – “Every time we pick a Playing XI, we disappoint people; there are others who are not playing. Every time we pick a 15 for a tournament, there are a lot of guys who feel they should be there. And you feel bad for them at an emotional level. But at least we all try.”

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Rahul Dravid further said –

“I don’t say I am perfect at it. I’m not saying that I get it right all the time because it does affect you. That’s the hardest part of coaching or leading teams – having to make those tough decisions about people you truly want to succeed and do well. But you can only pick so many players, forced by the rule.”