Veteran Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik recently shared a heartwarming story about Indian cricket legend Rahul Dravid. Malik recounted an incident during a flight when Dravid patiently waited for two hours for him to wake up. He was eager to discuss the secrets behind Malik’s numerous comebacks.
In an interview to a Pakistani sports channel, Malik spoke about Dravid’s unselfish approach as a coach. He attributed India’s success in the 2023 World Cup to his influence. Currently leading the points table with an undefeated record of six wins, India stands out as a formidable force in the competition.
“We were on a flight from Pakistan to New Zealand, and coincidentally, the Indian under-19 team was on the same flight. Rahul Dravid, who was the coach at that time, patiently waited for two hours while I was sleeping. He wanted to talk to me and asked, ‘You’ve made numerous comebacks, what motivates you?’ He mentioned, ‘I coach the under-19 team, and I want to share the psyche behind it with them,'” Malik said.
“What I’m saying is, he doesn’t have an ego. He genuinely wanted to understand the challenges of making a comeback. In his own career, he’s experienced many highs and lows. So, he approached me, and I appreciated that. Learning is a continuous process, and it’s evident in the current success of the Indian team under Rahul Dravid,” he added
With Dravid’s coaching philosophy focused on humility, learning, and understanding the mental aspects of the game, the Indian cricket team continues to thrive under his guidance.