GUWAHATI: Rajasthan Royals (RR) head coach Rahul Dravid, along with CEO Jake Lush McCrum and Assam Cricket Association (ACA) officials, Taranga Gogoi and Tridib Konwar, interacted with the media on Thursday, February 20, at the 91 Yards Club, ACA, Barsapara Stadium.
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During the event, the official RR playing jersey was presented to ACA members, marking a gesture of partnership between the franchise and Assam cricket.
Dravid, speaking to the media, expressed his enthusiasm about returning to Guwahati, a city he holds in high regard.
“It’s lovely to be back in Guwahati, Assam. I’ve been here before for matches, including just before the World Cup, though unfortunately, the practice match against England was washed out. I’ve always enjoyed coming back to this beautiful part of the world,” he said.
He also acknowledged the ACA’s role in supporting cricket in the region.
“It’s been lovely to be back with the Royals again. It’s a franchise I played for and later mentored. It feels like coming home. I’m looking forward to working with everyone at Rajasthan Royals to make this a memorable season,” Dravid added.
Highlighting RR’s philosophy, he said, “The ethos of RR is to develop young talent, build them, and grow people and players. I think they’ve proved this through action. I’m excited about this journey and about playing some fantastic games here in Guwahati. With the support of Assamese people and ACA, I’m sure we’ll have two great games and two great results.”
On the team’s preparations, Dravid stated, “We’re very happy with the squad we have. It’s a young team, but experienced in IPL terms. Riyan Parag, for instance, is still a young cricketer but has played over 50 IPL games. The same goes for players like Jaiswal and Sanju. We have some really exciting young Indian talent, and Riyan, being from Assam, has grown into a fantastic cricketer. This time, he plays as an Indian cricketer in the IPL, not just as a state representative.”
He further added that RR has a competitive squad and, with the right approach, could go all the way in the tournament.
Meanwhile, CEO Jake Lush McCrum announced that tickets for RR’s match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) would go live on BookMyShow from 9 PM, while tickets for the clash against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) would be available later this month.
