“Really enjoyed myself…,” formar India coach Rahul Dravid shares his fondest memories of playing cricket at historical cricket stadium of Chepauk
Rahul Dravid is enjoying his time off from cricket after his coaching tenure with Team India concluded following their T20 World Cup 2024 triumph in June.
Recently, the 51-year-old traveled to Paris to watch the Olympic Games. He also attended the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2024 final between Lyca Kovai Kings and Dindigul Dragons at Chepauk on Sunday, August 4.
The official TNPL social media account posted a video of Dravid speaking with a presenter during the title match.
When welcomed to Chepauk and congratulated on bringing home the T20 World Cup title, Dravid expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thank you so much. It’s just lovely to be back here at Chepauk. This is a ground I have so many fond memories of, so it’s great to be here.”
Reflecting on his fondest memories at Chepauk, Dravid shared, “Playing league cricket here would be the fondest, because I played with friends and really enjoyed myself. Of course, some Test matches stand out as well—I got my 10,000th run in Test cricket at this ground. I have played some fantastic Test matches against Australia and England. Winning the World Cup game against Australia also comes to mind. There are a lot of memorable moments at this ground.”
Reflecting on his association with the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, Dravid shared, “I loved playing league cricket here for India Cements. I came here as a young man of 21, played 3-4 years of league cricket, and even after playing for India, I kept returning. I learned a lot and thoroughly enjoyed my time here. It was tough, hard cricket, but it helped me grow as a cricketer just before my India debut. It made a big difference in my career.”
Regarding the TNPL, Dravid commented, “Leagues like TNPL and KPL are fantastic as they provide great opportunities for young players. Seeing this kind of crowd is phenomenal for these young boys. It really boosts their confidence. Kudos to the TNCA for organizing this so well. It’s wonderful to see young players shine, and also to see veterans like Ashwin still contributing and winning games for their teams.”
Rahul Dravid was appointed as India’s head coach in October 2021. During his tenure, India reached the finals of both the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup last year, but they fell short, losing to Australia in both finals.
Dravid concluded his coaching career on a high note, as Rohit Sharma led the team to victory in the T20 World Cup held in the Caribbean.
There are now rumors that Dravid is in discussions with the IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals for the head coach position.