India Under 19 and their development squads have been under Rahul Dravid for some time now. He’s done a terrific job nurturing the careers of some young players like Prithvi Shaw.

By Rex Clementine

So, the general consensus seems to be that the IPL has taken Indian cricket to different league altogether. That may be true, but let us dig deeper. Who has been in charge of Indian Under-19 team and their development squads for the last so many years? There is a certain individual called Rahul Dravid; a fine role model, a perfectionist and one of the finest brains in the sport. Can you ask for a better person than that?

Dravid’s 164 Tests is the fifth most by a cricketer. How many people who have even played 25 Test matches will have the humility to take up something like the Under-19 team. Dravid has no ego. While modern day greats will be happy to do an IPL stint or a short-term contract as a batting coach, no one would come forward to put in the hard yards with young lads where there is little glamour. Dravid has been a godsend to Indian cricket. He has been building up India’s bench strength. One of those guys who made his debut at RPS on Sunday stepped out and whacked the first ball he faced for six. You will see much more from Ishan Kishan in this series.

There is not just technical brilliance that you get with Dravid. You have got the whole package. Someone with a deep passion for the game and someone who never made headlines for wrong reasons. Look at how many young Sri Lankan players who have been so promising when they walked into the side get into trouble before they play ten Test matches. India where there is larger media scrutiny, players have stayed out of trouble and their development is truly amazing.

In our system, we have a High-Performance Center, which neither has a swimming pool nor an indoor net. These basic facilities at RPS were prioritized by Hemaka Amarasuriya when he was President of Sri Lanka Cricket in 2002. Sadly, he could not see to the completion of these as his term ended after one year. Since then, for 20 years, there have been lame excuses although Sidath Wettimuny tried to fix it in 2015. Yet again, he too had to pack his bags after just one year in office.

India’s development squads under Rahul Dravid get regular exposure both home and overseas. They frequent places like England and Australia. The bench strength is too strong. Australian had been unbeaten at the Gabba for 30 years. When India put an end to it early this year, they did virtually with their second-string side. There was no Kohli, no Ashwin and no Bumrah. Instead, T. Natarajan and Washington Sundar were making Test debuts. They had been well prepared for the challenges of the biggest stage by Dravid.

We have been repeatedly told that SLC has been unable to organize ‘A’ team cricket due to COVID. That’s understandable. But let’s go back to ten years and find out how much ‘A’ team cricket India has played and how we have played. Down the line we had a board President in 2012 who said that ‘A’ team cricket is futile as the board wasn’t making any money. With men like that heading the board, our cricket did not need any enemies.

Rubbing salt in the wound, our authorities doubled the number of First-Class teams in 2016. With 25 First Class teams competing in the domestic tournament, the level of competition has been diluted. Double hundreds and triple hundreds are all too frequent in our First-Class cricket. Did you know that Sachin Tendulkar never scored a triple hundred in First-Class cricket? Did you know that Steve Waugh did not score a triple hundred in First Class cricket. Did you know that Jacques Kallis did not score a triple hundred in First Class cricket? But Ramesh Mendis has a triple hundred in First Class cricket. So does Minod Bhanuka. Basically, that should sum up the story.

Ah yes, you may argue that with our current system we had a Pathum Nissanka making a hundred on debut and a Praveen Jayawickrama claiming 11 wickets on debut. You can keep pampering yourself. Things are going to fall apart worse than you could ever imagine.