Talented youngster Samit Dravid, son of former India cricketer and Head Coach Rahul Dravid, missed the first youth Test for India Under-19 against Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Monday, September 30. Samit missed the game due to a knee injury he sustained recently. However, he also missed the recently-concluded youth one-day series which India won 3-0 against Australia as well.

However, Samit Dravid has been working on rehabilitation at the new Center of Excellence in Bengaluru and it is not known yet whether he will be ready to play the second youth Test, starting October 7 in Chennai as well.

Samit Dravid's Under-19 debut delayed

However, Samit Dravid's Under-19 debut has been delayed due to this. The talented player from Karnataka might not get an opportunity to play Under-19 cricket for India too if he doesn't play the second youth Test as well. Meanwhile, he is set to turn 19 on October 11 this year as well, which will also make him ineligible to take part for India in the ICC 2026 Under-19 World Cup, as per news agency PTI.

SEE ALSO: IPL 2025 pre-auction retention deadline revealed

A Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) official also opened up on Samit's injury situation, claiming that the team management, led by Under-19 coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar, will wait and watch his progress in the coming week and take a call as well.

The second youth Test will start on October 7 in Chennai

“His MRI scan was done during the one-day matches. We thought of giving him a go at the four-day game, but let’s see how he progresses at the NCA. We are waiting for their report. We also have a second match,” a source close to the development told the news agency.

India: Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Vihaan Malhotra, Nitya Pandya, Soham Patwardhan (captain), KP Karthikeya, Abhigyan Kundu (wicketkeeper), Nikhil Kumar, Mohammed Enaan, Samarth Nagaraj, Aaditya Singh, Aditya Rawat.

Australia: Simon Budge (wicketkeeper/captain), Zac Curtain, Oliver Peake, Steven Hogan, Christian Howe, Riley Kingsell, Addison Sheriff, Aidan O Connor, Thomas Brown, Hayden Schiller, Vishwa Ramkumar.

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir tasted his first success in the longer format as India beat Bangladesh in the first Test convincingly. After Rahul Dravid's tenure ended after the team won the 2024 T20 World Cup, Gambhir took the reins. And, after the ongoing Bangladesh Test series, India will play New Zealand and Australia in the longer format as well. And, Ravichandran Ashwin will be important for India as well. Before that, Ashwin described how Gambhir and Dravid are different as head coaches.

'I think Gambhir is very relaxed' - R Ashwin

"I think he (Gambhir) is very relaxed. There is nothing at all. In the morning, in the huddle. 'Are you coming?' Like that. Rahul Bhai is like, we will come. As soon as we come, the bottles should be in a place. He is very regimented. He is like, everything should be in order, according to him. He has a relaxed order. I feel that he captures the minds of the people. He loves the boys. He is not only relaxed," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

However, R Ashwin expressed his gratitude towards the crowd for their support throughout the 1st India vs Bangladesh Test match in Chennai. He also added that this was one of the best Test pitches he has played on in India so far and also urged curators to create similar pitches for Tamil Nadu's Ranji Trophy games as well. 

SEE ALSO: Rohit Sharma comments on his retirement plans after quitting T20Is

"Easily one of the best cricket pitches I have played in India" - R Ashwin

"The crowd was so passionate about watching the match," Ashwin said.

"Easily one of the best cricket pitches I have played in India for a while. Awesome pitch and I really hope Tamil Nadu play Ranji Trophy on such pitches. The way they have laid the pitch, they should take it to the next level. Outstanding Test match wicket. Earlier, there was a curator named Pacha. He said. 'sir the wicket will be good for the fast bowlers in the morning'. The batting will be easy. Then it will turn and the match will be over'. But like he said, the first day, there will be bounce," R Ashwin concluded.

Legendary Indian cricketer, former Indian captain, and T20 World Cup-winning former Indian head coach Rahul Dravid recently opened up why India is extremely powerful in cricket. 

On Sunday (September 8), Rahul Dravid was present in the 50-year celebration of Mount Joy Cricket Club. 

Talking about the present Indian cricket status, Dravid credited the Indian cricket talent acquisition system. 

Dravid said, according to the PTI report, "If you look at Indian cricket today, Indian cricket is extremely strong, it's extremely powerful. One of the big reasons for that is that talent comes from everywhere, from all over the country."

Talking about this, Dravid further went through the example of Indian cricket’s previous generations.  

Dravid added, "If you go back to the time of, say, GR Vishwanath or even when I was starting out, most of the talent came from the big cities or a few states. Even if there were talented boys in smaller places, they had to come to the big cities to play cricket. But today I think you see in Indian cricket that boys are coming from everywhere."

WATCH: 'So This is Where the IPL is Won' - Rahul Dravid joins Rajastan Royals, pranks the biggest fan

You just look at the standard of the Ranji Trophy: Ranji Trophy

Dravid also praised the present standard of the Ranji Trophy, India’s most important first-class cricket tournament. 

Dravid claimed, "You just look at the standard of the Ranji Trophy. In the old days when you played in the South Zone, other than playing Hyderabad or Tamil Nadu, I think it is fair to say, without being disrespectful, that a lot of other teams you could take it not for granted but you could certainly take it a little bit more lightly.

"I don't think there is any team in the South Zone today that you can walk in and say you will beat comfortably."

We need clubs to be strong: Rahul Dravid

Club cricket is an important part of Indian cricket. Indian domestic cricket teams generally get the cricketing talents from the club cricket. Dravid feels that strong club cricket is important for the development of Indian cricket. 

Dravid said, "We need clubs to be strong. We need cricket not to be concentrated in the hands of a few people. We need cricket to be egalitarian, we need it to be all over the place. You cannot have talent or facilities concentrated only in one or two places. To get the best out of talent, we need to ensure that young boys and girls are getting access to good infrastructure in every part."

Dravid also revisited his early cricket days, where he learnt the game more from the seniors’ talks.

The wall of Indian cricket said, "After the practice, HAL [Hindustan Aeronautics Limited] would give us two eggs and one small glass of milk. I would always stay back for that glass of milk and those eggs. Not because I wanted the milk and eggs. But because I wanted to sit and listen to the likes of BK Kumar or Nandan talking about cricket. And it used to be great fun to listen to them and learn so much from them."

Recently, Dravid successfully ended his journey as the head coach of the Indian men’s national cricket team. Under his coaching, India won their second T20 World Cup trophy after winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 trophy in the West Indies and United States. Last year, the Indian team finished as the runners-up in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 at home. 

Just a few days ago, Dravid officially returned to the Indian Premier League team Rajasthan Royals as a head coach. He was a key man for the Rajasthan Royals between 2011 and 2015. He led the team in 2012 and 2013, where the Dravid-led Rajasthan Royals finished as the runners-up in the Champions League T20 2013. 

Later, in the IPL 2014 and 2015, Dravid worked as a mentor of Rajasthan Royals. 

Former India head coach Rahul Dravid has found a new job as he has returned to the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, Rajasthan Royals as the Head Coach. The Indian batting legend tasted success with the national team as the head coach which went on to win the T20 World Cup 2024. After stepping down as the national team’s head coach, Dravid subsequently returned to the cash-rich league, reuniting with his former franchise where he played and mentored as well.

Rahul Dravid joins Rajasthan Royals

On Friday (September 6), Rajasthan Royals (RR) officially announced Rahul Dravid as the new head coach of the team. Dravid has signed a multi-year contract. 

The 51-year-old former Indian captain and legendary Indian batter, Rahul Dravid, recently ended his contract as the head coach with the Indian men’s national cricket team after winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 trophy. 

Rahul Dravid, India's legendary World Cup-winning coach, is set for a sensational return to Rajasthan Royals! 🇮🇳🤝

The cricket icon was captured receiving his Pink jersey from the Royals Sports Group CEO Jake Lush McCrum. It is believed that the RR Admin was present too,… pic.twitter.com/C6Q8KRDFgW

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) September 6, 2024

SEE ALSO: Vikram Rathour, Rangana Herath join New Zealand to help for upcoming Test series in Asia

Rahul Dravid-led Rajasthan Royals performed strongly in 2013

Between 2011 and 2015, Dravid served for the Rajasthan Royals as a captain and as a coach. While Dravid led the Rajasthan Royals between 2012 and 2013, his team reached the Qualifier 2 at the IPL 2013. 

Meanwhile, at the Champions League T20 2013, the Dravid-led Rajasthan Royals reached the final by winning all matches. However, in the final, they lost against Mumbai Indians and finished as the runners-up. 

Dravid led Rajasthan Royals in 40 T20 matches, where his team won 23 games and lost 17 fixtures. 

Dravid scored 1324 runs in 52 matches for Rajasthan Royals. The right-handed batter’s average and strike rate for the team were 27.02 and 108.88, respectively. He scored seven half-centuries for the franchise, including his highest score of 66 runs. During his retirement from the game, he was the third-most run-scorer for the franchise. 

Rahul Dravid was in the RR coaching team in 2014 and 2015

In the IPL 2014 and 2015, Dravid joined the coaching team of the franchise, where he worked as a mentor. 

Dravid and Royals' Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara will now work together to implement the overall cricketing strategy for the team. 

Kumar Sangakkara 🤝 Rahul Dravid 🔥💗

This is going to be exciting! 😍 pic.twitter.com/eAN4cvZsG1

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) September 6, 2024

I am pleased to be returning to the franchise: Rahul Dravid

Dravid is ready for the new challenge. He called the Rajasthan Royals his ‘home’ and is pleased to be returning to the franchise. 

Dravid said, "I am pleased to be returning to the franchise I have called 'home' for a number of years in the past. After the World Cup, I feel it's the ideal time for me to take on another challenge, and the Royals is the perfect place to do that.” 

The former RR captain added, “A lot of hard work and deliberations from Manoj, Jake, Kumar, and the team has gone into the progression that the franchise has made over the past few years. It's an exciting opportunity for us to take this team to the next level given the kind of talent and resources we have at our disposal and I'm looking forward to getting started."

Rajasthan Royals will now focus on rebuilding a solid team for the IPL 2025. In two out of the last three IPL seasons, RR reached the playoffs, while they finished as the runners-up in the IPL 2022 after losing the final against the IPL debutants Gujarat Titans. 

The highly anticipated Shriram Capital Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 auction took place at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, featuring a pool of 240 talented cricketers. As teams geared up for the third edition of the tournament, set to commence on August 15th, the auction spotlight fell on Chethan LR, who emerged as the most expensive player. He was secured by the Bengaluru Blasters with a staggering bid of 8.2 lakhs. The auction witnessed significant bidding wars for experienced and budding talents, including notable acquisitions of IPL and state-level players.

Emerging talents and rising stars

The auction also highlighted several young and emerging talents. Among them was 18-year-old Samit Dravid, son of the legendary Rahul Dravid, who was secured by the Mysore Warriors for 0.5 lakhs. The Mysore Warriors also made strategic bids for Luvnith Sisodia, Mohd. Taha, and Lavish Kaushal, each commanding impressive sums beyond their base prices. Sisodia, one of the top scorers last season, was acquired by the Gulbarga Mystics for 7.2 lakhs, while Mohd Taha returned to the Hubli Tigers with a price tag of 6.6 lakhs.

In Category B, focusing on senior state players, the 23-year-old speedster Vidyadhar Patil was in high demand, ultimately secured by the Mysore Warriors for 6.4 lakhs. Goutham Mishra joined the Mysore Warriors for 2 lakhs, and the prolific Smaran R returned to the Gulbarga Mystics for 3.15 lakhs. The Shivamogga Lions made significant moves in Category C, acquiring bowling all-rounder Avinash D for 5.4 lakhs and Rajvir Wadhwa for 2.2 lakhs.

Top bids and notable acquisitions

Chethan LR’s acquisition was a major highlight, as the Bengaluru Blasters invested heavily in him following his impressive performances in previous seasons. Mayank Agarwal, the captain of Bengaluru Blasters, expressed excitement about Chethan’s addition, saying, “We are very happy to have Chethan LR as a part of our squad. He was a treasured find for the Bengaluru Blasters during the first season of the Maharaja Trophy, and I am looking forward to playing with him this season.”

In Category A, which features Indian and IPL players, Shreyas Gopal’s versatile skills were highly valued, fetching 7.6 lakhs from the Mangaluru Dragons, making him the most expensive purchase within the category. The Mysore Warriors made strategic moves by securing experienced all-rounder Krishnappa Gowtham for 7.4 lakhs, southpaw all-rounder J Suchith for 4.8 lakhs, and pacer Prasidh Krishna, who is not at full fitness, for 1 lakh. Other significant bids included KC Cariappa, acquired by the Hubli Tigers for 4.2 lakhs, and Praveen Dubey, who went to the Gulbarga Mystics for 6.8 lakhs. Despite recovering from an injury, wicketkeeper-batsman Sharath BR was snapped up by the Gulbarga Mystics for 1 lakh.

See Also: Ruturaj Gaikwad named as Maharashtra team captain for Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season – Cricket Winner

The auction concluded with teams strategically building their rosters, setting the stage for an exciting tournament. As the competition approaches, fans eagerly anticipate witnessing both seasoned players and emerging talents showcasing their skills on the field.

Cricket is set to make a comeback at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028. It was last included in the Olympics back in 1900. The first-ever India House at the Paris Olympics will celebrate this milestone with a special panel discussion called ‘Cricket at the Olympics – Dawn of a New Era.’

Organized by Dream Sports, the event will take place on the evening of July 28 at India House, located at Parc de La Villette. India House, the country’s first official presence at the Olympics, was created by the Reliance Foundation in partnership with the Indian Olympic Association.

The vision for Cricket’s global growth and diversity

The panel will include Geoff Allardice, CEO of the International Cricket Council, cricket legend Rahul Dravid, and Harsh Jain, CEO & Co-Founder of Dream Sports.

Geoff Allardice, CEO of the International Cricket Council, said, “We continue to focus on the development of cricket across the world, bringing in more fans to the game, opportunities for players to compete at the highest level and now taking cricket to the Olympic stakeholders. The inclusion of cricket in the Olympics marks an important step and we look forward to Paris 2024, as an added impetus to the journey.”

Harsh Jain, CEO & Co-Founder of Dream Sports, said, “Dream Sports and Dream11’s mission is to ‘Make Sports Better’ by providing world-class fan engagement experiences. We are very excited to have the world’s second-largest spectator sport finally included in the next Olympics. This is sure to take the Olympics’ global viewership to an all-time high and encourage more countries to develop cricket programs, promoting the sport’s growth and diversity.”

Dream Sports role in enhancing cricket’s Olympic journey

Cricket and Dream11 have a close relationship, and having cricket in the 2028 Olympics is a big achievement. It will push more countries to start cricket programs, helping the sport grow and become more diverse.

The panel discussion will explore the inclusion of cricket in the LA 2028 Olympics, the growth and opportunities for cricket in both established and new markets, and the worldwide passion of cricket fans.

Abhishek Sharma recently shared what head coach Rahul Dravid told the India team before their U-19 World Cup quarter final against Bangladesh in 2018. Known for his calm demeanor, Dravid surprised everyone by telling the players to go all out in the knockout match.

The 23 year old mentioned that India had previously lost to Bangladesh in the U-19 Asia Cup before the World Cup. Dravid advised the team not to back down if the Bangladeshi players abused them in the quarter final.

Speaking on the YouTube channel Second Innings with Manjot Kalra, Abhishek said:

“We had lost to Bangladesh in the U-19 Asia Cup. When we faced them again in the World Cup, Rahul Dravid told us that if they abuse, you also give it back. Nobody expected him to say something like this. We were all very pumped up for that match.”

India won the 2018 U-19 World Cup quarter final against Bangladesh by 131 runs, successfully defending a 265 run total. Abhishek Sharma scored 50 runs off 49 balls and took two wickets in the match.

The Prithvi Shaw led India U-19 team went on to defeat Pakistan in the semi final and Australia in the final to win the trophy.

Abhishek Sharma’s Stunning Century

Last month, a video of Abhishek Sharma hitting a 25 ball century in a club match in Gurugram went viral. The left handed batter smashed 14 sixes, scoring 103 runs off just 26 balls.

Speaking about the game, he said that he hadn’t brought his kit bag and had to ask someone to bring it after the opposing team set a daunting 250 run target in a 20 over match.

“A lot of people had gathered there once they got to know that we were playing. It was a weekend, so there was a big crowd. They had given us a target of 260. I told my friend that people have gathered, and it doesn’t matter if we win or not, but they should get entertainment. I did not open in that match because I hadn’t even carried my kit bag. So, I called for my kit bag and then went to bat at No. 3 or No. 4.”

Abhishek Sharma’s century helped his team chase down the target with 11 balls to spare and four wickets in hand.

After India’s big T20 World Cup win, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin praised head coach Rahul Dravid, calling him the key to the team’s success. On his YouTube channel, Ashwin shared the emotional moments that followed the victory.

Ashwin Shares His Favorite Memory

Ashwin’s story highlighted Dravid’s deep emotional connection to the team. His favorite memory was seeing Rahul Dravid hug the cup and cry.

“My moment was when Virat Kohli handed the cup to Rahul Dravid. I saw him hug the cup and cry. Rahul Dravid screamed and cried. I saw how much he enjoyed it. I felt that a lot,” Ashwin recalled.

Ashwin Highlights Dravid’s Behind-the-Scenes Efforts

Ashwin praised Dravid for his hard work behind the scenes. He talked about Dravid’s past as a captain and how he’s always been there for the team.

“I want to talk about a person who is special. In 2007, during the 50-over World Cup, India got knocked out. Rahul Dravid was the captain then. He didn’t captain the one-day team after that. He’s always been with the Indian team. When things go wrong, people immediately ask what Rahul Dravid is doing,” Ashwin said.

He noted the pressure Dravid faced, especially after past failures in ICC tournaments.

“I know what he’s been doing with this team for the past 2-3 years. I know how balanced he has been and how hard he’s worked to change the approach. I know how much he has given to each player. Even when he’s at home, he’s planning how to do things,” Ashwin added.

Dravid’s Impact on the Team

Dravid’s time as coach has led to noticeable changes in India’s game. The team is now more adaptable, resilient, and ready for new challenges. Ashwin credited much of this change to Dravid’s influence. Under Dravid’s coaching, India has become a strong team in all formats. They’ve shown they can handle tough targets, defend low scores, and perform under pressure.

Even though star players often get the spotlight, Dravid’s hard work behind the scenes has been crucial to India’s success. His careful planning, attention to detail, and belief in his players have helped the team reach the top of world cricket. India will begin their new cycle with coach Gautam Gambhir on July 27 against Sri Lanka after Dravid’s contract ends.

After leading India to a T20 World Cup win in 2024, Rahul Dravid is now looking at a new role in the IPL. Since finishing his time as head coach of the Indian team, Dravid has been linked with several IPL teams.

Rumors of Kolkata Knight Riders role

There were rumors that Dravid might join Kolkata Knight Riders after their mentor Gautam Gambhir, left to take Dravid’s former role with the Indian team. However, recent reports suggest Dravid is now in talks with Rajasthan Royals, his old IPL team.

While Dravid seeks a new challenge, Gambhir has already started his journey as India’s head coach, heading to Sri Lanka with the team. Before leaving, Gambhir acknowledged the big shoes he had to fill after Dravid’s successful tenure.

Talks with Rajasthan Royals

“Talks are going on between RR and Dravid, and an announcement in this regard is round the corner,” Times of India(TOI) quoted a source as saying.

Dravid’s T20 World Cup success

After India’s T20 World Cup victory against South Africa, Dravid joked about being ‘jobless’ and asked reporters if they had any job offers. Given his talent and vast experience, it’s no surprise that IPL teams are eager to have him.

Dravid chose not to continue as India’s head coach because he didn’t want to spend 10 months a year traveling and away from his family. The IPL, however is different. It only requires a 2-3 month commitment, which Dravid might find appealing.

Dravid’s IPL experience

Dravid has previously worked as a mentor and coach for IPL teams. He was the coach of Delhi Daredevils until 2017 when he left due to a ‘conflict of interest.’ Since then, he has coached India’s junior teams and was the head of the National Cricket Academy before taking the India job in 2021.

Now in talks with Rajasthan Royals, it will be interesting to see what role Dravid might take on with the team.