Watch: Coach Rahul Dravid recalls his first meeting with India’s T20 captain Rohit Sharma

Jaipur/Bhubaneswar: Team India head coach Rahul Dravid on Tuesday recalled his first meeting with India’s T20 skipper Rohit Sharma during a press conference.

Dravid revisited the 2007 series against South Africa in Ireland, in which he was captaining Team India, when a 20-year-old Rohit made his debut.

“We were talking about it yesterday on the bus. I guess time flies, doesn’t it? I actually remember Rohit even before the Ireland series when we were playing a challenger in Madras,” Dravid said during the pre-match press conference.

“We all knew that Rohit was going to be special. We could just see that he was a very special talent. That I would so many years later be working with him that I never thought about or envisaged….

“… but honestly, the way he has grown as a leader, as a person over these last 14 years now. What he’s achieved both as an India player and as a leader for the Mumbai Indians has been phenomenal,” he added.

“Having to carry the legacy of obviously Mumbai cricket and Indian cricket is not an easy one and he’s done it with a lot of grace and class,” Dravid said.

🎥 Head Coach Rahul Dravid rekindles his first meeting with a young @ImRo45 & lauds the #TeamIndia T20I captain for his contribution towards the Indian cricket. 👏 ☺️#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/croLaIElLu

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 16, 2021

Talking about his international debut, Sharma said: “It was way back in 2007 when I was selected, but the first time I had the opportunity to interact with him was in Bangalore at a camp. It was a very brief chat and I was actually kind of very nervous and I never used to talk so much even with my age group people so leave alone these guys at that point.”

“So, I was just quietly doing my things and getting a move on with my game. But yeah, in Ireland the first time when he came and told me that you will be playing this game. I was over the moon that, obviously felt like a dream to be part of the dressing room. It’s been a long way since then. I have cherished all the moments that I’ve spent playing for India and also for my franchise, Mumbai Indians. And we look forward to many more,” he said.

India are set to play three T20Is against New Zealand, the first of which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday at Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium.