Aspire to play for India: Rahul Dravid’s message to U-19 cricketers

"My message to them is to focus on actually improving, getting better, seeing this as an opportunity to learn and grow as a cricketer, to see this World Cup as another exposure they are getting at a very young age.

"They are lucky to get this at a young age. That's all I tell them about: it is just one step in their journey hopefully as cricketers. Nobody wants to end up being just an Under-19 India cricketer. That is not the aspiration of anybody in that dressing room we are sitting," Dravid said at the pre-departure media briefing in Mumbai, reported PTI.

Dravid, who took over as the coach of the U-19 team in November, guided the team to two tri-series victories as part of their preparations for the U-19 World Cup, which is scheduled to start in Bangladesh on January 27. The ‘Wall’ made it clear that he is not looking at the tournament as an opportunity to win as a coach but as an opportunity for the whole team.

"I am not trying to win the World Cup as a coach. I am trying to hopefully grow and develop these guys. Winning the Under-19 World Cups is honestly not the be all and end all of anything. In the end, I will be happier if some of these guys go on and play for India. That should be their aim and real aspiration," reported PTI.

India finished fifth in the last edition of the U-19 World Cup in UAE, and the former India captain believes the presence of Sarfaraz Khan, Ricky Bhui and Avesh Khan, who also represented India last time, will help them in the tournament.

"It is good, they have played in games that have been high-pressure games. Every time you play in a first class game, it means you have to handle a certain amount of pressure. I am sure that's always helpful.

"We have two or three guys who have played an (U19 World Cup) earlier. Sarfaraz, Ricky (Bhui) and Avesh (Khan), who have been at the World Cup before, so, hopefully, they will use their experience," he added, reported PTI.

India is grouped alongside New Zealand, Nepal and Ireland in Group B and will play their first game against Ireland on January 28 in Mirpur.