Players need to realise their roles, can't abuse system: Dravid on Pandya-Rahul row
The former India captain Rahul David has also asked the public not be over critical regarding their comments.
Mumbai: The controversy involving Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul seems getting murkier day by day after the duo were slammed for their crass comments about women on TV chat show Koffee with Karan.
The players have been suspended pending an inquiry by the Committee of Administrators (CoA) and their fate is set to be decided by an ombudsman, which will be appointed by the Supreme Court.
Weighing in on the debate, that saw the Team India players being suspended from the limited-over tours of Australia and New Zealand, former India captain Rahul David has asked the public not be over critical regarding their comments.
“It is not that players did not make mistakes in the past. It is not that mistakes will not be made in the future despite our best efforts to educate the youth. But let us not overreact please,” Dravid was quoted as saying by The Hindu.
Dravid, who has been nurturing talent for the future by managing the Under-19 and the India A squads, also stressed about the need of making players realise their roles and responsibilities.
“Players come from different teams and their roles of responsibility need to be addressed. Issues will always be there and we have to educate and guide them. They should be told they can’t abuse the system. I learnt from watching seniors in Karnataka, from parents and coaches. They were my role models. No one sat me down and gave me a lecture. I observed and learnt. The best learning process happens in the dressing room from your seniors. But we should not over-react.”
“People forget in the past also incidents have happened. Today it gets highlighted more but I agree we need to keep mentoring them, educating them because challenges today are different on and off the field. They have to remember their responsibilities as Indian cricketers. It can’t be everything was great earlier and everything is bad today,” he added.
The Vinod Rai-led CoA is considering a behavioural counselling programme for the Team India players in the wake of the controversy. The programme is also set to include all the age-group national teams and the A squads.