Rahul Dravid will be the head coach for a second string side playing three ODIs and as many T20Is in Sri Lanka July 13 onwards. This has triggered wishful thinking among many cricket followers around the world. Some say he should replace Ravi Shastri after the T20 World Cup this year. But former India batsman Wasim Jaffer thinks differently.
In a video on his YouTube channel, Jaffer said, "I personally feel that he (Dravid) should not be pushed to become coach of the Indian team. I feel that he needs to work with these U19 and India A players at the NCA because the international players are somewhat finished products."
Giving due credit to Dravid for developing India's bench strength, Jaffer added, "Rahul Dravid's mentorship and guidance is more needed at the Under-19 and India A levels so that the players there can achieve the next level. So, he needs to stay at the NCA for a longer period for our bench strength to keep on growing even stronger."
Manjrekar bats for Suryakumar at number three
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar says since skipper Virat Kohli is likely to open with Rohit Sharma in the T20 World Cup, Suryakumar Yadav is an ideal candidate for the number three slot. Kohli and Rohit Sharma had opened for the first time in the fifth match of the home T20 series against England in March this year, raising a 94-run partnership.
They had also opened together way back in 2014 against New Zealand.
Manjrekar also felt that Suryakumar Yadav could be the front-runner for the number three spot, which otherwise belongs skipper Kohli. "Yes, I think he (Surya) is one of the front-runners, especially with the news coming out that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are going to be India's openers. There could be a number three slot open for me," Manjrekar said during a virtual interaction.
"I don't know what plan they have with (KL) Rahul, there certainly is a place for someone like Suryakumar Yadav. I have rarely seen somebody bat like that in the IPL for the whole season and even more, the kind of batsmanship we have seen.
"And makes him an ideal number three, he can hit good balls for fours, certainly one of the options," he added.
