Rahul Dravid Regrets Playing Cricket at His Age After Leg Injury
Rajasthan Royals (RR) coach Rahul Dravid has candidly admitted that playing cricket at his current age 'wasn't a great idea' following a leg injury sustained during a local match in Bengaluru. This incident occurred shortly before the commencement of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, forcing him to utilize wheelchairs and crutches during the RR pre-season camp.
Background on the Incident
Mr. Dravid, the former India captain, participated in a local match for Vijaya Cricket Club (Malur) in February, playing in the Third Division (Group I) of the Nassur Memorial Shield tournament. He batted at No. 6, scoring 10 runs off eight balls, alongside his son, Anvay. This recreational appearance, however, resulted in an injury that necessitated a change in his training regimen.
Dravid’s Statement
Addressing the situation at a recent press conference ahead of RR’s match against Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati, Dravid stated, “Recovering well. I got some great support. Just, unfortunately, at my age, playing cricket matches wasn’t a great idea I think. But it’s ok. It happens so it’s fine.”
Rajasthan Royals' Performance and Dravid's Perspective
The Rajasthan Royals haven't had a stellar start to the IPL 2025 season. They suffered a 44-run defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad and an eight-wicket loss to Kolkata Knight Riders. Despite these setbacks, Dravid remains optimistic.
He commented, “It’s early days, and there are a lot of positives. Against SRH, we probably gave away 25-30 extra runs on a flat wicket. And in the KKR game, we should have scored 25-30 more. But this is just the start. We’re confident about turning things around. I’m really excited about this group. A couple of games haven’t gone our way, but in a long tournament, that happens. Sometimes it’s better to start slow and finish strong — and that’s exactly what we’re aiming for.”
The team is currently placed 10th on the points table with a net run rate (NRR) of -1.882.
Supporting Stand-in Skipper Riyan Parag
Dravid also voiced his support for stand-in skipper Riyan Parag, who is captaining the team for the first three matches due to Sanju Samson’s injury preventing him from keeping wickets. Parag has struggled to replicate his form from last season, managing only 29 runs at an average of 14.50 in the first two games.
“Look, Riyan [Parag] is one of our best batters, let’s be honest,” Dravid explained. “And we want to give him as many balls as we possibly can. Twenty overs is a very short time and the more balls Riyan Parag bats for us, the better it is for us as a team. The move to No. 3 was a positive move to try and give him more time to bat. And we know how destructive a player he is and if he gets more time, then he can score more runs and that can benefit the team. And I think he’s quite comfortable, he’s more than capable of batting at any position.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What caused Rahul Dravid’s leg injury? Rahul Dravid sustained a leg injury while playing in a local cricket match for Vijaya Cricket Club (Malur).
- Why isn't Sanju Samson playing? Sanju Samson is currently unable to keep wickets due to an injury, which is why Riyan Parag is the stand-in skipper.
- How is the Rajasthan Royals performing in IPL 2025? The team has had a challenging start to the season, losing their first two matches.
- What is Rahul Dravid’s outlook for the rest of the IPL season? Dravid remains optimistic and believes the team can turn things around, emphasizing the importance of a slow start leading to a strong finish.