India’s coach Rahul Dravid has lauded the selectors for their bold decisions in selecting young players, which played a crucial role in India’s 4-1 series victory over Australia. Despite missing several key players due to injuries and workload management, India managed to field five debutants, the joint-highest number after their inaugural series.
Dravid acknowledged the selectors’ efforts in identifying and pushing for these young talents. “They’ve pushed us and challenged us to pick some of these young players, and they’ve picked the right ones,” he said. “They’ve come out here and performed.”
One of the standout selections was wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, who had only 15 first-class matches under his belt. In Pant’s absence, Jurel played a pivotal role in preventing India from falling behind in Ranchi, earning him the Player-of-the-Match award.
Other young players who stepped up included Yashasvi Jaiswal and Kuldeep Yadav. Jaiswal, with four Tests prior to the series, became only the second Indian batter to score 700 or more in a series. Kuldeep, with eight caps, became the fastest Indian bowler and the second-fastest spinner overall to reach 50 Test wickets.
Rohit Sharma, India’s captain, praised Jaiswal’s aggressive approach and Kuldeep’s resilience. “He’s got something about him, which we all need to be happy about,” Rohit said of Kuldeep. “He has worked hard at NCA and is putting a lot of body into the ball.”
Rohit also acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead for Jaiswal. “He has come a long way to where he is right now,” Rohit said. “So obviously he will understand what he needs to do individually and then what the team expects from him as well.”
Dravid’s praise for the selectors highlights the importance of identifying and nurturing young talent. By giving these players opportunities, India has ensured a strong foundation for the future.
