Dravid: India don’t need a new head coach

Former India batsman Rahul Dravid feels the national side, and players at that level, don't really need a head coach, per se, but more someone to act as a team advisor or mentor.

India have been without a head coach for months, since Duncan Fletcher's departure, and have been led by team director Ravi Shastri, and Dravid, who has taken over the Under 19 side, feels this is sufficient.

'The Wall' said on Cricinfo: "There is no need for basic coaching at that level. You are looking for someone as the guiding factor or someone to create a good environment which helps to grow and share some of the experiences that we have.

"My philosophy is not going to be teaching. I don't think you need to teach India A players how to play. They all know how to bat and bowl and they are there because they are successful. It is just about trying to help them to get to the next level."

Dravid has been leading the Rajasthan Royals for the past few IPL seasons, first as a player then as a mentor/coach, and says he enjoys the job and gets better at it with every passing year, the same as when one plays the game.

He continued: "The fact that I have spent a couple of years at Rajasthan Royals in the role of a mentor, I have seen the other side of what the sport is. I have always seen it as a player and I have spent many years as a player.

"The couple of years that I spent outside in the management and the coaching side of things, there is a lot of learning that you get all the time, and the more you do it, the better you get. It is like playing. I am looking forward to it."

With his new role as the Under 19 boss, he says he'll work closely with the senior management, like Shastri, to help identify future talent and get them to the 'next level'.

He added: "The selectors and the senior team management generally have a vision as to what sort of players they are looking to pick.
 
"Sometimes you pick young players in India A, sometimes you pick players who are looking to make a comeback and want to push for the national team. Sometimes you pick players depending on what future tours are in mind."

"So I think there are various parameters and you just can't decide these kind of players should be selected or that kind. I see my job as coaching the players they have selected and not in the selection side of things.

"My job is to coach the players and try to help them to get to the next level."

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