While critics will always find ways to ask questions, a coach’s job remains incredibly tough. When it comes to making selection calls, whether in the playing XI or for the squad as a whole, the coach often has to make tough decisions and even turn down those players he or she was so eager to see succeed. Head coach Rahul Dravid, the head coach of India’s men’s cricket team, opened up about such “difficult” selection talks, saying the best thing he can do for a player is to be honest with him and make the decisions without any political agenda or bias.
“You care about each of those people that you coach, also on a personal level and you try to build personal connections. You want to coach them as people and not so much as cricketers. And when you do, you want them all to succeed. But at the same time you have to be realistic and realize that not all of them are going to succeed. Sometimes you have to make those hard and difficult decisions,” Dravid said during an episode of ‘CRED Curious.’
The head coach of India admitted that every time the Indian team announces its playing XI, there are those who are left disappointed. Even other players who didn’t get picked feel sad about being snubbed. But that’s a coach’s job, to make tough decisions.
“Every time we pick a Playing XI, we disappoint people; there are others who don’t play. Every time we pick a 15 for a tournament, there are a lot of guys who think they should be there. And you feel bad for them on an emotional level. But at least we all try. I’m not saying I’m perfect at it. I’m not saying I always get it right because it does get to you. That’s the hardest part of coaching or lead teams – who have to make tough decisions about people you really want to succeed and do well. But you can only pick a limited number of players, forced by the rule.”
Not every player gets to hear the true reasons behind his or her absence from the team. Dravid, in a recent interaction with veteran wicketkeeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha, was honest with him about wanting to give chances to younger players in the team. For Dravid, being honest is the best thing he can do as a coach.
“There’s no easy answer to that. I think the thing that comes to my mind is that you at least try to be honest about it. In your communication and dealing with players, if there’s an honesty and if they can think that you act without any political agenda or any bias, then that’s the best you can hope for. That should be a guiding principle,” Dravid said during the interaction.
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