Rahul Dravid backs under-fire cricketers Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul

The Indian cricket team will be happy to hear that Hardik Pandya will join up with the squad for the latter stages of the New Zealand tour after BCCI uplifted the suspensions placed on Pandya and KL Rahul. Pandya was subjected to immense criticism after he made racist and sexist comments on popular talk show ‘Koffee with Karan’. However, Indian legend Rahul Dravid has offered his support to the under-fire pair in his recent interview with ESPNCricinfo.

Dravid, who represented India in 164 Test matches scoring 13,288 runs, claimed that two youngsters will definitely learn from their mistakes and reckoned that the whole incident will help them mature as cricketers and as individuals.

"I did not see the full show. I saw bits and pieces. At one level the players themselves have come out and said how disappointed they were with the way it came out, and rightly so. Clearly when you are representing India you need to be a bit careful with your public views and comments that you make because it might be completely inappropriate to a lot of people. Having said that it is important to recognise and realise that sometimes these things can happen. Sportspersons and public figures can make mistakes. It is part of learning and growing up," Dravid told Cricinfo.

Dravid, who was also the coach of the U-19 Indian cricket team led by Prithvi Shaw that won the ICC U-19 World Cup in New Zealand last year, added that despite their dogged past, Pandya and Rahul still have to hit their full potential in the coming years. Once they achieve their peak form, they could still serve as role models to upcoming cricketers.

"Sometimes we forget that mistakes have happened in the past. They will happen in the future. If you were to read the papers or if I were to hear comments it comes across as if it is only happening now. I can understand some of the anger, I can understand some of the reactions, but one has to understand mistakes will happen.

"I have coached both of them at various levels. I somehow just don't feel that interview truly reflected the players. Hopefully they will come back better and stronger from this. I will say honestly, I do believe that both of them have not yet achieved their obvious potential that they both have, and maybe this might be the catalyst that would lead them to reflect and help them reach the level and potential they can achieve in all forms of the game. If they can do that they can certainly be role models," Dravid added.

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