As Staff India embarks on their all-format tour of the West Indies, beginning with the Check sequence on July 12 in Dominica, followers are full of hope and anticipation. The tour encompasses two Check matches, three ODIs, and 5 T20Is, offering ample alternatives for the group to showcase their abilities and dominate their opponents. Indian supporters will significantly look to move coach Rahul Dravid and veteran batter Virat Kohli to guide the cost and produce match-winning performances.
Dravid and Kohli have a particular connection to the Caribbean islands, as they have been a part of the Check facet that visited West Indies again in 2011. It was a big tour for each gamers, because it marked Dravid’s final go to to the West Indies as a participant and Kohli’s debut in Check cricket.
Throughout that tour, the then 21-year-old Kohli made his presence felt by scoring 30 runs in his solely innings of the drawn Check match. Now, 12 years later, Kohli returns to the identical venue as one of many best batter to have ever performed the sport. This upcoming sequence in 2023 will likely be his fourth red-ball tour to the Caribbean, having beforehand toured in 2016 and 2019. Whereas, then again, the ‘wall’ of Indian cricket, Dravid has returned to the facet within the type of Head Coach. Forward of the opening Check, the duo mirrored on their journey as they recalled fond reminiscences of the 2011 tour.
After I got here right here again in 2011, it was very particular for the island and the bottom right here.To come back again right here in a distinct capability as a coach and to carry your group right here, I feel Virat was the one one who was there once we got here right here again in 2011,” Dravid mentioned in a video posted by BCCI on Twitter.
The Staff India head coach spoke about Kohli being a particular expertise from the get-go.
“I bear in mind Virat, it was his first Check sequence with the Indian group. He was this younger child who had achieved rather well in One Day cricket and was simply discovering his toes a bit of bit in Check cricket, however you can see there was some particular there. You possibly can see he was going to be round for some time. How lengthy although, you’ll be able to by no means say, so I feel he could be very pleased with his journey,” the top coach added.
The Karnataka Stalwart added that whereas in 2011 he was the senior professional, Kohli now holds the identical title and he’s a brand new coach.
“I definitely by no means thought I’d come right here as a coach 10 years later, however it’s good to have seen that journey, seen him develop from being a teenager to a senior participant on the journey. It has been nice for me to see that journey and I consider myself as somebody who’s a younger coach who’s beginning out his journey as nicely. So I feel the tables have turned a bit of bit,” Dravid concluded.
Kohli additionally revisited the tour over a decade in the past and narrated his expertise of sharing the dressing room with Dravid. He admitted that he might by no means have imagined that he would return to Dominica as an achieved participant on his first go to again in 2011.
“Once we went into the dressing room, once we went to observe, I sort of remembered my first sequence right here as a Check participant. That is the nation the place it began, I imply the Caribbean, and it’s simply superb that to have the ability to come again right here after 12 years, having performed greater than 100 Check matches, I’d have by no means imagined something like this,” the 34-year-old mentioned.
The previous Indian captain additional stating that life has come full circle by way of his and Dravid’s modified roles after 12 years.
“It’s fairly superb, I informed Rahul bhai yesterday as nicely, I mentioned you’ll by no means have imagined that 12 years later we will likely be coming again to the identical venue and you may be the top coach and I’d have performed greater than 100 video games, nobody would have guessed that one. I’m simply blessed that we’re the one two members from the final journey. Nonetheless right here in numerous capacities, it’s like life has come full circle and the journey has been fairly superb,” the Delhi-born signed off.
Right here’s the video:
2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣1️⃣ – Staff members
2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣3️⃣ – Head Coach & Batter
12 years on Rahul Dravid & Virat Kohli reminisce some particular Dominica reminiscences 😊#TeamIndia | #WIvIND | @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/HRkBLS2Lam
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 12, 2023
Notably, the primary Check match between the West Indies and India will kickstart the World Check Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle for each side.
