‘I remember Virat Kohli playing his first Test series, could see that there was something special’: Rahul Dravid

After Virat Kohli penned a heartwarming note for Rahul Dravid, the Indian head coach recalled the latter’s Test debut in 2011 and said he had seen something special in Kohli.
“I remember Virat playing his first Test series. He was this young kid, who had done well in ODI cricket and was finding his feet in Test cricket. But you could see that there was something special talent out there,” Dravid said in a video released BCCI.
“You could see he would be there for a while. How long you can never say, so I think he can be very proud of his journey. I certainly did not think I would coach and come here,” said Dravid.
“But seeing him grow from being a young player to a senior veteran has been nice. Its been great for me to see that journey. I think of myself as a young coach who has also started his journey (laughs). So the tables have turned a little bit,” he added.
Reacting to it, Kohli said, ” I think his comment on being a young coach is quite a humble one. I think he has been coaching for a long time. I never imagined that 12 years later, I would return to the same venue but in different capacities. Life has come a full circle.”

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
Back then, India managed to draw the third and final Test of the series to clinch it 1-0. While it was the debut Test series for a young Virat Kohli, who had already won an U19 and an ODI World Cup, it marked the last time Dravid played a Test match in the Caribbean.