19 January,2016 02:08 PM IST | | Harit N Joshi
Thinking out of the box for a team-building exercise, the U-19 coach Dravid took the youngsters for an overnight stay at Ramanagaram, the village where Bollywood film 'Sholay' was shot in the early 1970s
Rahul Dravid has ensured he leaves no stone unturned as the former India skipper prepares the India U-19 team for the ICC World Cup to be held in Bangladesh later this month.
The India under-19 cricket team at the boot camp in Karnataka recently
Thinking out of the box for a team-building exercise, the U-19 coach Dravid took the youngsters for an overnight stay at Ramanagaram, the village where Bollywood blockbuster Sholay was shot in the early 1970s.
The village, situated in a hilly region of Karnataka, is just a few hours away from Bangalore where the team had a camp recently.
Dravid's initiative
Former India pacer Paras Mhambrey, who is the team's bowling coach, said the aim was to develop a strong understanding between team members.
"It was Rahul's initiative. The players are from different backgrounds and it is important to bring them together. Only then, they will perform as a team. They will be together for a very short time and it was important that they know each other well.
The whole exercise was to develop team-bonding, team spirit and a good comfort level. The activity helped a lot in making the team come together," Mhambrey told mid-day yesterday.
The team indulged in rappelling, rock climbing and climbing around 350 steps of a mountain for a sunset point.
"We also played some team games. There was plenty of leg-pulling, but also a lot of encouragement if someone had a fear of heights. It helped the boys develop confidence in each other which is very crucial for a team's success," Mhambrey concluded.
Dravid also wanted to venture out on a beach during their tour to Sri Lanka in December, but rough weather did not permit them, informed a team official.
