India’s Head Coach Rahul Dravid said that he is not hurt by the veteran keeper Wriddhiman Saha has revealed a classified conversation based on his future.
Indian Head Coach Rahul Dravid said that he is not hurt that Wriddhiman Saha has revealed the classified conversation on his future but at the same time he made that the Bengal-based wicketkeeper knows his position in the team.
The veteran wicketkeeper had told the media that Rahul Dravid had asked him to think about retirement after the South Africa series in a private conversation with him.
“I’m actually not hurt at all. I have deep respect for Wriddhi and his achievements and his contribution to Indian cricket. My conversation came from that place. I think he deserved honesty and clarity,”
Dravid said.
The Indian coach cleared that he will continue to have these conversations with the players in the team whether they like the content of the discussion or not.
“It’s about conversations I constantly have with players. I don’t expect players to always agree with everything I say about them. That’s not how it works. You can have difficult conversations with the players, but that doesn’t mean you brush it under the carpet and don’t have the conversations,”
said the former India captain.
Dravid stated that his philosophy to take things forward is that he makes sure of a discussion with the players before picking up any playing X1.
“I always believe in having those conversations before every playing XI is picked and be open to questions such as why they are not playing. It’s natural for players to get upset and feel hurt.”
Dravid explained that the purpose of having such a conversation with Saha was to make him clear that Rishbah Pant has already taken the position of wicketkeeper batter and proved to be number 1 and thus the Bengal-based player does not have any chances.
“I was just trying to convey that with RP (Pant) having established himself as our No.1 wicketkeeper-batsman, the idea was to say that we are looking to groom a younger wicketkeeper (KS Bharat). This doesn’t change my feelings or respect for Wriddhi.”
“Easiest thing for me is to not have those conversations and not speak to players about it. That’s not what I am going to do.
“But at some stage, I hope they respect the fact that I was able to front up and have those conversations,”
he added.