Former Indian skipper Rahul Dravid, who has coached KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya, believes they can continue to be role models.
The two Indian cricketers were lambasted for their comments on Koffee with Karan and were suspended by BCCI. However, they were reinstated till the appointment of ombudsman.
Pandya has been recalled to the squad in New Zealand, while KL Rahul has been selected in the India A team to face England Lions.
Dravid has stated that both of them have made mistakes but they are not the first ones to be on the wrong side of the coin and won’t be last ones either.
“Sometimes we forget that mistakes have happened in the past”, Dravid was quoted as saying in an interview with ESPNCricinfo. “They will happen in the future. If you were to read the papers or if I were to hear comments it comes across as if it is only happening now. I can understand some of the anger, I can understand some of the reactions, but one has to understand mistakes will happen”, he added.
Dravid was asked if the duo can continue to be role models. The former legend revealed that their remarks don’t reflect their true values. “Absolutely. I have no doubt about it. I have coached both of them at various levels. I somehow just don’t feel that interview truly reflected the players. Hopefully they will come back better and stronger from this.” He feels they have a lot to offer to Indian cricket. “I will say honestly, I do believe that both of them have not yet achieved their obvious potential that they both have, and maybe this might be the catalyst that would lead them to reflect and help them reach the level and potential they can achieve in all forms of the game. If they can do that they can certainly be role models.”