Priyank Panchal has been named as a replacement for Rohit Sharma, who has a hamstring strain and will play the Test series versus South Africa. Panchal has recently spoken out about the lessons he learned from present Indian head coach Rahul Dravid while captaining the India A team in 2019.
Panchal stated that after being named captain of the India A squad, he became overly excited and forgot what it takes to be a captain. Although it was Dravid who encouraged Panchal to be normal and stated that he had the leading ability. Panchal claimed that Dravid told him to establish his own pathway, adding that the cricket legend’s guidance benefited him.
I have been lucky to have interacted with Dravid while with India A: Priyank Panchal
“I was very excited during training sessions, thinking that now that I am captain, I have to do this and do that. In excitement, you forget what you really want to do. So Rahul sir had told me, ‘Just be normal“.
“You have it naturally within you, and that is why you have been given this job. You don’t need to change your game at all. Just follow your path, the way you have performed in domestic cricket all these years, just do that here.’ That really helped me,” Panchal
Priyank Panchal also stated that he observed Dravid’s training at the National Cricket Academy throughout his playing days. Panchal further mentioned that he has followed Dravid since the beginning of his career and feels fortunate to have visited the present Indian head coach.
Panchal finished by saying that because Dravid has so much expertise when he teaches him new, he gets it swiftly.
“I have seen how hard Rahul sir would train at the NCA during my Under-15 days. I have followed him ever since I began my career. I have been lucky to have interacted with him while with India A. When he says something, you absorb it instantly as a cricketer, because it comes from someone who has had such a long cricketing journey and so much experience,” concluded Panchal.
