Q I assume you’re more relaxed on this trip to Nagpur than you were in October, before the ODIs against Sri Lanka... You’d then just been appointed full-fledged captain and there had been issues leading up to that series...
A I’m more comfortable, not more relaxed... I’ve captained for much longer and the more you captain, the more you learn and grow into the job... I know some of the boys better and, equally, they’ve got to know me better.Has there been one match or moment when you began feeling more comfortable?
I can’t put a finger that way... It’s an on-going process... You keep facing new challenges and, as I’ve said, keep learning... To be honest, it’s not that I wasn’t comfortable in October...
You’ve recently made a couple of statements vis-a-vis your relationship with coach Greg Chappell. Was it because you were irritated with the perception that you aren’t really your own man (as captain)?
I replied to pointed questions... If I wasn’t asked, I wouldn’t have made any comment ... I don’t, by the way, lose sleep over perceptions... Having played this game for years, I know they aren’t always accurate — not only where I’m concerned, but regarding others as well... Without really getting to understand an individual or even making the effort, people attach labels such as strong, weak, passionate, soft... The difference with reality can be huge.But you have an image...
(Interrupting) I haven’t created one... I never try to prove a point... I’ve reacted because you’ve asked a question... I don’t need to go around saying things.What did you learn most from what was a difficult tour — Pakistan?
We played superbly to come back in the first two Tests (Lahore, Faisalabad)... We didn’t play the new ball well in both innings in Karachi and, in my opinion, those were the two occasions when we didn’t do well on the tour... In my book, we didn’t make any other mistake... But, yes, we lost that Test and learnt a lesson... Collectively, what we learnt most is that the new ball has to be played better... Also, 20 wickets need to be taken... (After a pause) People must not forget we’ve got a young attack and, to grow, the bowlers need experience.Frankly, after losing in Karachi, did you expect to claim the ODIs 4-1?
I was confident we could win, but I didn’t think of numbers and expected to face a big challenge...
What gave the confidence?
Oh, just the quality of one-day cricket we played versus Sri Lanka (6-1) and South Africa (2-2) at home earlier in the season... The skills we’d shown, the flexibility, the enthusiasm... That and more gave confidence. Of course, I also knew we would struggle if we played below potential.
Did young legs alone make the biggest difference?
A difference... No one element makes the biggest difference... It’s always a combination of factors... What can’t be denied is the energy and enthusiasm of the young legs... Having said all that, some of the experienced guys also contributed... Sachin (Tendulkar) had a big contribution in the early matches... Yuvraj Singh was consistent throughout...
Your own contribution wasn’t insignificant either... If you weren’t Rahul Dravid, how many marks would you have given?
(Laughs) I am Rahul Dravid! I can’t not be Rahul Dravid... Look, I don’t give marks to anybody — neither to my players nor myself... I look at everything from a team-perspective... The collective success or... Talking of myself, I’m happy at the way I responded to the challenges... We were up against 679 in Lahore and 588 in Faisalabad, but I opened and got hundreds in each of those Tests... However, I would have liked to have got runs in the Karachi Test.
That both you and Chappell kept defending the bowlers in the first two Tests attracted praise from Imran Khan...
Because of the wickets (at the Gaddafi and the Iqbal Stadium), I genuinely felt they didn’t need to be criticised... In any case, criticism is best handed out behind closed doors... And, as you know, I believe anything said in the dressing room shouldn’t go beyond those four walls... Actually, if somebody needs to be told something, it’s better through a one-on-one and not even in front of the team. (After a pause) Don’t forget we not only had some young bowlers, Zak (Zaheer Khan) was making his comeback...
Was dropping Sourav Ganguly in Faisalabad the toughest decision you’ve had to take as captain?
Leaving out anybody is a damn tough decision... Telling people they’re not playing isn’t easy, more so a great player with a proven record... I’m learning that not everything you do as captain is pleasant... It comes with the job, but I would like to add the captain alone doesn’t decide (on the XI)... There’s the vice-captain, the coach and, now, a selector even on tour... The decisions are collective and by consensus... Not that all are easy, though.
There was a time when Sourav and you were seen as being very close... Well, he has been dropped again... Will there be any awkwardness when you meet him the next time?
I hope not... I don’t think personal relationships change for professional reasons... At the end of the day, cricket is just a sport... Sourav and I have been around for a number of years and it depends how professional one is in handling such situations... Touch wood, so far, there hasn’t been any real awkwardness between us... In fact, I also haven’t felt any awkwardness with either Anil (Kumble) or (V.V.S.) Laxman, both of whom haven’t been playing ODIs... To repeat, all decisions aren’t easy, but one has to accept them and move on.
Man-management is a big component of captaincy. Given your fondness for reading, have you picked up something from any book?
(Grins) Greg and (biomechanist) Ian Fraser have given some books... One also gains a lot through experience and talking to people, particularly former captains... Not only through books on leadership or management... At least, there’s no book which I would call the Bible… I’m the type who reacts to situations.
What’s your style of captaincy?
Hmm... Don’t know... It’s a tough question... I haven’t set out to carve a particular style... The Media likes to categorise, but I don’t have a mantra for leadership... I be my own self and try and do my best... If it answers your question, I remain Rahul Dravid.
As captain, you’ve often emphasised on ‘fresh challenges’... How do you sell that in the dressing room?
Not hard at all... The right kind of people are always going to look for challenges... Players want to be challenged and if you don’t offer fresh challenges, you’ll never know how good they really are... A great bowler brings the best out of a batsman... He challenges him to raise the bar... Cricket, for me, is getting the best out of myself — not comparing my game or my average with either A or B. Great challenges are, simply, great challenges and there’s nothing more satisfying than competing with the best. I want my players to constantly raise the bar, not look for safe options.
What, for you, is the biggest challenge?
(Laughs again) Trying to put my kid (Samit) to sleep!
Lastly, you’re on the verge of completing a decade of international cricket... Any special thoughts?
Thanks for reminding me... I need to think!
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060302/asp/sports/story_5914333.asp
AuthorTopic: Dravid exclusive (Read 531 times)
April 02, 2006, 03:47:40 PM
