Former India head coach Rahul Dravid has offered a contrasting perspective to the current team management’s philosophy, emphasizing that “superstars” and “heroes” are vital for the sport’s survival and growth.
Speaking on Wisden’s Scoop podcast, Dravid’s comments come at a time when his successor, Gautam Gambhir, has been vocal about dismantling “superstar culture” to focus on a more collective, team-centric identity.
The Necessity of Heroes
Dravid argued that becoming a superstar in a cricket-obsessed nation like India is not a result of marketing, but a byproduct of consistent, high-pressure performance.
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Inspiration: Dravid noted that any sport needs icons to capture the imagination of the nation and inspire the next generation of athletes.
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Performance-Driven: “You can’t capture the imagination of a nation if you don’t deliver on the field,” Dravid stated, adding that legends are made by doing “a lot of things right” while helping the team win.
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The Scrutiny Factor: He highlighted that in India, players face immense scrutiny, and those who emerge as superstars have successfully navigated both extreme praise and harsh criticism.
Concerns Over Test Cricket and Recent Retirements
Addressing the Indian Test team’s recent struggles under Gambhir’s tenure, Dravid pointed to a significant leadership and talent vacuum following a wave of high-profile retirements.
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The “Big Three” Void: Dravid suggested the team is still in a transition phase after losing stalwarts Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin. “It is not easy to replace players like that,” he admitted.
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Current Slump: While acknowledging recent series where India hasn’t performed up to its usual standards, he remained optimistic that the team would “turn things around” this season.
The Challenge of Modern Scheduling
Dravid also touched upon why the current crop of players might find red-ball (Test) cricket more difficult than his generation did.
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Volume of Cricket: Unlike his era, which focused on fewer formats, modern players must juggle an intense schedule of T20, ODI, and Test matches.
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Lack of Preparation: Dravid noted that players still view Test cricket as the “toughest format,” but the sheer volume of white-ball cricket prevents them from getting the same depth of preparation that his generation enjoyed.
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Balancing Act: He emphasized that the inability to adapt to the rigors of the red ball is often a matter of “realism” regarding time and physical recovery, rather than a lack of desire.
