Rahul Dravid Is “Behaving Like an Owner”: Vikram Rathore Opens Up About His New Role in European T20 League
Former India captain Rahul Dravid has taken on a new challenge away from the traditional coaching setup, investing in the Dublin Guardians franchise in the European T20 Premier League. Coach Vikram Rathore says Dravid has remained calm, supportive and understanding despite the team’s difficult start to the tournament.
Rahul Dravid has spent decades at the heart of Indian cricket, first as one of the country’s most dependable batters and later as a coach who helped guide the national team through several important phases. Now, the former India captain is experiencing the game from a completely different perspective — that of a franchise owner.
Dravid has invested in the Dublin Guardians franchise competing in the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), giving him an opportunity to experience professional cricket from the other side of the boundary. Rather than being responsible for team selection or on-field strategies, he is now watching the franchise develop while allowing the coaching and cricketing staff to handle the day-to-day operations.
For Vikram Rathore, the experience has been particularly interesting. Rathore has worked closely with Dravid in the past during his time with the Indian team and in the Indian Premier League. He is therefore familiar with Dravid as a player, coach and member of a support staff. However, seeing him take on the responsibility of an owner has been a different experience altogether.
According to Rathore, Dravid has maintained a supportive approach even though the Dublin Guardians endured a difficult beginning to their ETPL campaign.
“Rahul is behaving like an owner,” Rathore said during a virtual media roundtable, explaining that Dravid has not attempted to interfere excessively with the cricketing decisions being made by the team.
The Dublin Guardians went through their first five matches without registering a victory, a challenging start for any new franchise. Despite those disappointing results, Rathore said Dravid remained patient and encouraging.
Rather than putting pressure on the coaching staff after every setback, Dravid has reportedly given the team the freedom to work through its problems. Rathore believes Dravid’s own experience as a coach has helped him understand the unpredictable nature of tournament cricket.
“He hasn’t been too involved. So, it’s been good,” Rathore explained, adding that having someone with Dravid’s experience involved with the franchise provides reassurance, particularly during difficult periods.
Dravid knows better than most that results do not always reflect the quality of a team or its preparation. Having spent years working in high-pressure cricket environments, he understands that teams can experience winning streaks as well as extended periods without success.
Rathore said Dravid has therefore been “very supportive” during the opening phase of the tournament, despite the franchise failing to win any of its first five matches.
“He’s been really good, which you expect from somebody like Rahul anyway,” Rathore added.
Ashwin Handles Much of the Cricketing Responsibility
While Dravid has taken on the role of owner, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has emerged as one of the key figures handling the franchise’s cricket-related responsibilities.
Ashwin, one of modern cricket’s most accomplished players, is no longer involved in mainstream competitive cricket in the same way as during his playing career. However, his deep understanding of the game and extensive knowledge of international cricketers have become valuable assets for the Dublin Guardians.
Rathore revealed that Ashwin has been heavily involved in the day-to-day cricketing decisions within the franchise. This includes discussions around opposition strategies, player selection and other important matters concerning the team.
Describing Ashwin as almost a “cricket fanatic”, Rathore highlighted the enormous amount of cricket the former India star follows around the world.
According to Rathore, Ashwin possesses an impressive understanding of players from different countries and is able to offer insights that are particularly useful in a tournament featuring cricketers and playing conditions that may be unfamiliar to members of the coaching staff.
“As far as Ashwin is concerned, obviously, he has great knowledge of cricket, of cricketers,” Rathore said.
He added that Ashwin watches a huge amount of cricket and has an extraordinary knowledge of players from around the world.
Ashwin’s Experience Has Helped Rathore
For Rathore himself, the ETPL represents a new experience. Much of his professional career has been associated with Indian cricket, meaning that working in a European T20 competition has brought a different set of challenges.
Understanding unfamiliar players, conditions and opposition teams can take time, but Rathore said Ashwin’s presence has made that transition considerably easier.
The former India batting coach admitted that he is sometimes surprised by just how much Ashwin knows about international players and playing conditions.
“It surprises you, actually, at times, how much he knows about these conditions and these players,” Rathore said.
Rathore believes that having Ashwin around has been a major advantage for the coaching staff. His experience as an international cricketer, combined with his extensive knowledge of players from across the world, has provided valuable support as the Dublin Guardians attempt to find their rhythm in the tournament.
Dravid’s New Cricketing Chapter
Dravid’s involvement with the Dublin Guardians marks another interesting chapter in the career of one of Indian cricket’s most respected figures.
After achieving legendary status as a player and later making a successful transition into coaching, Dravid is now learning what it means to operate a franchise. His approach so far, according to Rathore, appears to be based on trust rather than constant intervention.
The early results may not have gone in the Dublin Guardians’ favour, but Dravid’s experience allows him to understand that building a competitive team takes time. Instead of reacting emotionally to losses, he has reportedly allowed the coaching and cricketing staff to do their jobs.
For Rathore, having both Dravid and Ashwin associated with the franchise offers a unique combination of leadership and cricketing knowledge.
While Dravid brings years of experience as a player, captain and coach, Ashwin contributes his detailed understanding of the modern game and international players. Together, their involvement gives the Dublin Guardians a strong cricketing foundation as they continue their ETPL campaign.
The team’s difficult start has certainly created an early challenge, but with experienced figures such as Dravid, Ashwin and Rathore involved, the franchise will be hoping to turn its fortunes around as the tournament progresses.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
