The Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI) has appointed former captain Rahul Dravid as the Coach of the India A and Under-19 cricket teams after the first meeting of newly formed BCCI’s advisory committee. The Indian cricket board’s secretary Anurag Thakur said Dravid has agreed to take up the coaching role of the 2 teams.

The 42-year-old Dravid, famously called as The Wall, had played 164 Tests and 344 ODIs in his career. He had been sounded out for the national coach’s job but he was reluctant to take up the assignment owing to family commitments. He has been IPL team Rajasthan Royals’ mentor.

BCCI is yet to decide about the permanent coach for Senior Team. Ravi Shastri has been retained Team Director till the Bangladesh tour.

Tidbits

• Rahul Dravid was named one of the best five cricketers of the year by Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack in 2000.
• In December 2011, he became the first non-Australian cricketer to deliver the Bradman Oration in Canberra.
• In 2004, Dravid was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India. He was also honoured with the Padma Bhushan award, India’s third highest civilian award.
• Dravid is the third highest run scorer in Test Cricket, next to Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting.
• Dravid has scored 36 centuries in Test cricket at an average of 53.19; this included five double centuries.