Rahul Dravid‘s unavailability on India Under-19 tour of England as a coach has led former India opener and batting coach at National Cricket Academy, WV Raman, take charge as a temporary coach of the India Under-19 team for the tour. Recently, Rahul Dravid’s term as a coach of India-A and Under-19 teams was extended. However, he will accompany India-A team to South Africa instead of going England. Raman has also been training and looking after the Under-19 players for a long time, especially during the two-month camp at NCA.
According to a BCCI official, Raman is the perfect one for the job. “He knows all these boys and has been working in the NCA with them. Raman is the right candidate for the task and anyways he is in regular touch with Dravid,” said the official. Also, Dravid has told the Board officials that Raman will regularly update him about the performance of the team.
Also, Abhay Sharma will be going with the India Under-19 team as their fielding coach. However, the board has decided not to send any bowling coach with the team. The India Under-19s will play two four-day games and five one-dayers against England Under-19 starting on July 19.
The India Under-19 team will play two four-day matches and five one-day matches against England Under-19 from July 19 onwards whereas, India-A team will play two four-day matches and five one-day matches against the host, South Africa-A.