Virat Kohli was solely taking his first strides in Take a look at cricket when India performed right here final in 2011, however Rahul Dravid, then a towering determine within the squad, knew he was a “particular expertise” set for an extended and profitable profession. In a video shared by the BCCI forward of the opening Take a look at of the two-match collection, each Dravid, now the group’s head coach, and senior batter Kohli reminisced concerning the sport that came about greater than twenty years in the past.
“After I got here right here in 2011, that was a really special day for this Island and for the bottom right here. To return again in a special capability, to return right here as a coach and produce a group right here, Virat was the one one who was there once we got here right here in 2011,” Dravid mentioned.
“I keep in mind it was Virat’s first Take a look at collection with the Indian group, he was this younger child who had performed rather well in One Day cricket and he was simply discovering his ft a bit bit in Take a look at cricket.
“However you would see there was a particular expertise on the market and you would see that he was going to be round for some time. How lengthy you may by no means say so that you could be very pleased with his journey,” Dravid added.
Kohli not too long ago took to Twitter to share an image of himself with Dravid and expressed his gratitude for the reunion after 12 years.
Dravid mentioned, “I actually by no means thought that I might coach and are available right here 10 years later, however it’s good to have seen his journey, see him develop from being a younger participant on that journey to now being a senior veteran.
“I should not name him a veteran, however a senior participant on the journey. It’s nice to see his journey and I consider myself as somebody who’s a younger coach beginning a journey as effectively. So, the tables have turned a bit bit (laughs).” Kohli mentioned he’s blessed to be one of many two survivors from that squad of 2011 and mentioned he might by no means think about that he could be again the place it began kind him within the sport’s conventional format.
“After we went to the dressing room and once we went to follow, I form of remembered my first collection right here as a Take a look at participant and that is the nation the place it began, the Caribbean.
“It’s simply wonderful to have the ability to come again right here 12 years later having performed greater than 100 Take a look at matches, I might by no means have imagined something like this.
“I feel his (Dravid’s) remark about being a teenager in his teaching profession is sort of a humble one as a result of he has been teaching for an extended time frame now. I used to be his teammate and he was a senior, established Take a look at participant who all of us appeared as much as.” The batting maestro mentioned life has come a full circle for each.
“It’s fairly wonderful truly I advised Rahul bhai as effectively. I mentioned I’m certain you’ll have by no means imagined that 12 years later we are going to come again to the identical venue and you’ll be head coach and I might have performed greater than 100 video games.
“Nobody might have guessed that one. We’re blessed that we’re the one two members from the final journey, nonetheless right here in numerous capacities however it’s like life has come a full circle and the journeys have been fairly wonderful,” Kohli mentioned.
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