"Rahul Dravid Behaving Like An Owner": European Franchise Coach Shares Inside Details

By Suresh

**Dravid as "Owner," Ashwin Running the Show: Rathore Opens Up on Dublin Guardians** There's a certain rhythm to cricket—different tempos, different roles. And right now, in the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), we're witnessing a rare movement. Rahul Dravid, the man whose defensive genius I once likened to the *alap* of a raga—the unhurried opening that sets the soul of a piece—is wearing a new hat. Not as coach, but as *owner* of the Dublin Guardians. His assistant coach Vikram Rathore, who has stood beside Dravid through Indian team duties and IPL campaigns, admits it's an unfamiliar sight. "Rahul is behaving like an owner," he shared during a virtual media roundtable. "He hasn't been too involved. So, it's been good." But here's what moved me in his words—not the gossip, but the grace. Despite the Guardians stumbling through five winless games, Dravid has remained a steady presence. "He's been very supportive through the initial phase... But he has been really good, which you expect from somebody like Rahul anyway." There's a quiet dignity in that—a mentor who understands that results ebb and flow, and that patience matters more than panic. Now, the true maestro on the pitch is Ravichandran Ashwin. No longer part of mainstream cricket, the all-rounder has taken charge of the day-to-day affairs—strategy, selection, the living pulse of the side. Dravid, wisely, has not interfered. Rathore speaks of Ashwin almost with awe: "He's basically almost a cricket fanatic... He watches so much cricket, and he has so much knowledge of players from all around the world. That is like phenomenal." For a coach whose career has lived mostly within Indian cricket, Ashwin's global vision has been a gift. "Having somebody like Ashwin around has really helped." So here we have it: Dravid, the philosophical owner who lets the music play out; Ashwin, the all-rounder conducting from the front. Two legends, one franchise, and a beautiful reminder that cricket, like classical music, thrives on knowing when to speak—and when to listen. 🎶 Source: NDTV Sports