Ricky Ponting, the head coach of Punjab Kings, recently talked about his friendship with Rahul Dravid, who coaches the Rajasthan Royals. Both of them are regarded as legends in cricket, each with a long list of impressive performances throughout their careers. They both played in the crucial No.3 batting position, which has led to some memorable moments in cricket history. A standout occasion was during the 2003 Test series when they both scored double centuries in the second Test match between India and Australia.
In an interview with the Indian Express, Ponting reminisced about a time when he reached out to Dravid after a tough series. He noticed Dravid was struggling, feeling the weight of media scrutiny during that period. We could all see he was battling, Ponting explained. Rahul and I have always had a good rapport. We were intense rivals for many years, both competing as No.3 batsmen for our teams.
Ponting felt that despite the surrounding pressure, Dravid’s talent was still there, just buried under the stress. So, he decided to have a conversation with him. “I told him to ignore all the noise outside and focus on what made him successful in the first place. I said, ‘Just believe in yourself and stick to your game.’ And look what happened! Later in my career, I found myself in a similar situation. Dravid was the first to call me and share the same kind of encouragement.
Ponting didn’t stop there; he also shared his thoughts on other current players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. He referred to them as champion players, pointing out that they shouldn’t be counted out because they’re known for bouncing back when things don’t go well. Virat has shown he can pull through tough patches, and I think Rohit is cut from the same cloth, he said. Test cricket seems to be a tougher challenge for them lately, but Rohit has made it clear he’s not going anywhere in the shorter formats. In fact, Virat is, without a doubt, the best white-ball player I’ve ever seen.
Ponting jokingly mentioned that while he might not offer the same pep talk to Rohit and Virat as he did to Dravid, he truly enjoys watching their performances on the field and hopes they continue to play for a long time. “Whether I’ll send them the same message I gave Rahul at the start of the IPL? Well, that’s a different story, he chuckled, “But I do hope to see them shine in international cricket for years ahead.”
