Rahul Dravid, the former head coach of Team India, recently attended the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2024 final between Lyca Kovai Kings and Dindigul Dragons at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Dravid, who guided India to a historic T20 World Cup triumph in 2023, was warmly welcomed by the crowd and shared his fond memories of playing at Chepauk.
In an interview with a presenter, Dravid expressed his delight at being back at the ground where he had achieved several milestones in his illustrious career. He recalled playing league cricket with friends, scoring his 10,000th Test run, and winning a World Cup match against Australia at Chepauk.
Dravid also spoke about his association with the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) and the impact of playing league cricket in Chennai on his development as a cricketer. He praised the TNPL for providing opportunities to young players and creating a platform for them to showcase their talent.
“These leagues like TNPL, KPL, have been terrific as they provide a lot of great opportunities to so many young people,” Dravid said. “Look at this kind of crowd, for these young boys to be able to play in front of this crowd I think it’s just phenomenal and it really gives them a great boost.”
Dravid also acknowledged the contributions of veteran players like Ravichandran Ashwin, who led the Dindigul Dragons to victory in the TNPL final. He praised Ashwin for his continued excellence and his ability to inspire young players.
Dravid’s presence at the TNPL final underlined his commitment to the development of cricket in India. His insights and encouragement will undoubtedly motivate the young players who aspire to follow in his footsteps.
