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Former Team India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey has shared insights from his time collaborating with Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma during his tenure with the national cricket squad. Mhambrey commended Rahul Dravid for his modesty, emphasizing that the ex-captain preferred to shun the limelight rather than seek recognition.
Mhambrey’s association with Rahul Dravid spanned from late 2021 through the T20 World Cup 2024, where his contributions played a pivotal role in India’s triumph. His coaching journey with Dravid also included stints at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) prior to their joint venture with the Indian team.
Looking ahead, Gautam Gambhir assumes leadership of the Indian team as head coach for the upcoming white-ball tour of Sri Lanka commencing on July 27. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is in the process of finalizing the bowling coach position, while Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate have been appointed as assistant coaches.
Paras Mhambrey highlighted his extensive collaboration with Rahul Dravid across multiple capacities, spanning India A, U19s, the National Cricket Academy (NCA), and the senior national team. According to Mhambrey, Dravid consistently prioritized player support and development. Mhambrey further noted that Dravid intentionally remained behind the scenes, preferring to let the players and team captain take center stage.
“My association with Rahul is a long one. I worked with him for India A, U19s, NCA and then finally Team India. That’s eight-nine years of interaction and understanding what the requirements are, what the vision is. I knew what Rahul wanted. As a coach, Rahul was never in front, he is always behind (the players),” Mhambrey said.
“That speaks a lot about the individual himself. A lot of focus was on the players. It’s all about the players, never about him. He never liked to take credit. You always see him in the background. A legend of a game. But to be able to say that, okay, I’m going to take a backseat and allow the captain and the team to be in the forefront, it’s phenomenal,” he added.
Paras Mhambrey disclosed his past association with Rohit Sharma during their tenure with the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Mhambrey highlighted Rohit’s active involvement in team affairs, noting his consistent presence and participation in every team meeting. Additionally, Mhambrey humorously mentioned that Rohit’s wife once jokingly referred to Rahul Dravid as his “work wife.”
Rahul Dravid took charge of the India men’s cricket team following the T20 World Cup 2021. Under his guidance, the team reached the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2022, the finals of the ODI World Cup 2023, and the World Test Championship (WTC). Despite these achievements, the team fell short of securing titles in these ICC tournaments.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to extend Dravid’s tenure until the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the USA. The 51-year-old concluded his coaching stint triumphantly by clinching the trophy. Notably, Dravid, who didn’t win an ICC trophy as a player, chose not to seek a second term as head coach of the team.
