WI vs IND [WATCH]: Virat Kohli reflects on the unique partnership with Rahul Dravid

As Team India embarks on their all-format tour of the West Indies, starting with the Test series on July 12 in Dominica, fans are filled with hope and anticipation. The tour encompasses two Test matches, three ODIs, and five T20Is, providing ample opportunities for the team to showcase their skills and dominate their opponents. Indian supporters will particularly look to head coach Rahul Dravid and veteran batter Virat Kohli to lead the charge and produce match-winning performances.

Dravid and Kohli have a special connection to the Caribbean islands, as they were part of the Test side that visited West Indies back in 2011. It was a significant tour for both players, as it marked Dravid’s last visit to the West Indies as a player and Kohli’s debut in Test cricket.

During that tour, the then 21-year-old Kohli made his presence felt by scoring 30 runs in his only innings of the drawn Test match. Now, 12 years later, Kohli returns to the same venue as one of the greatest batter to have ever played the game. This upcoming series in 2023 will be his fourth red-ball tour to the Caribbean, having previously toured in 2016 and 2019. While, on the other hand, the ‘wall’ of Indian cricket, Dravid has returned to the side in the form of Head Coach. Ahead of the opening Test, the duo reflected on their journey as they recalled fond memories of the 2011 tour.

When I came here back in 2011, it was very special for the island and the ground here.To come back here in a different capacity as a coach and to bring your team here, I think Virat was the only one who was there when we came here back in 2011,” Dravid said in a video posted by BCCI on Twitter.

The Team India head coach spoke about Kohli being a special talent from the get-go.

“I remember Virat, it was his first Test series with the Indian team. He was this young kid who had done really well in One Day cricket and was just finding his feet a little bit in Test cricket, but you could see there was some special there. You could see he was going to be around for a while. How long though, you can never say, so I think he can be very proud of his journey,” the head coach added.

The Karnataka Stalwart added that while in 2011 he was the senior pro, Kohli now holds the same title and he is a new coach.

“I certainly never thought I’d come here as a coach 10 years later, but it is nice to have seen that journey, seen him grow from being a youngster to a senior player on the trip. It has been great for me to see that journey and I think of myself as someone who is a young coach who is starting out his journey as well. So I think the tables have turned a little bit,” Dravid concluded.

Kohli also revisited the tour over a decade ago and narrated his experience of sharing the dressing room with Dravid. He admitted that he could never have imagined that he would return to Dominica as an accomplished player on his first visit back in 2011.

“When we went into the dressing room, when we went to practice, I kind of remembered my first series here as a Test player. This is the country where it all started, I mean the Caribbean, and it is just amazing that to be able to come back here after 12 years, having played more than 100 Test matches, I would have never imagined anything like this,” the 34-year-old said.

The former Indian captain further stating that life has come full circle in terms of his and Dravid’s changed roles after 12 years.

“It is quite amazing, I told Rahul bhai yesterday as well, I said you would never have imagined that 12 years later we will be coming back to the same venue and you will be the head coach and I would have played more than 100 games, no one would have guessed that one. I’m just blessed that we are the only two members from the last trip. Still here in different capacities, it’s like life has come full circle and the journey has been quite amazing,” the Delhi-born signed off.

Here’s the video:

2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣1️⃣ – Team members
2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣3️⃣ – Head Coach & Batter
12 years on Rahul Dravid & Virat Kohli reminisce some special Dominica memories 😊#TeamIndia | #WIvIND | @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/HRkBLS2Lam
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 12, 2023