As Workforce India embarks on their all-format tour of the West Indies, beginning with the Take a look at collection on July 12 in Dominica, followers are crammed with hope and anticipation. The tour encompasses two Take a look at matches, three ODIs, and 5 T20Is, offering ample alternatives for the workforce to showcase their expertise and dominate their opponents. Indian supporters will notably look to go coach Rahul Dravid and veteran batter Virat Kohli to steer the cost and produce match-winning performances.

Dravid and Kohli have a particular connection to the Caribbean islands, as they had been a part of the Take a look at facet that visited West Indies again in 2011. It was a major tour for each gamers, because it marked Dravid’s final go to to the West Indies as a participant and Kohli’s debut in Take a look at cricket.

Throughout that tour, the then 21-year-old Kohli made his presence felt by scoring 30 runs in his solely innings of the drawn Take a look at match. Now, 12 years later, Kohli returns to the identical venue as one of many best batter to have ever performed the sport. This upcoming collection in 2023 can be his fourth red-ball tour to the Caribbean, having beforehand toured in 2016 and 2019. Whereas, then again, the ‘wall’ of Indian cricket, Dravid has returned to the facet within the type of Head Coach. Forward of the opening Take a look at, the duo mirrored on their journey as they recalled fond recollections of the 2011 tour.

Once I got here right here again in 2011, it was very particular for the island and the bottom right here.To return again right here in a special capability as a coach and to carry your workforce right here, I feel Virat was the one one who was there after we got here right here again in 2011,” Dravid mentioned in a video posted by BCCI on Twitter.

The Workforce India head coach spoke about Kohli being a particular expertise from the get-go.

“I bear in mind Virat, it was his first Take a look at collection with the Indian workforce. He was this younger child who had completed rather well in One Day cricket and was simply discovering his ft a bit bit in Take a look at cricket, however you may see there was some particular there. You may see he was going to be round for some time. How lengthy although, you’ll be able to by no means say, so I feel he might be very happy with his journey,” the pinnacle coach added.

The Karnataka Stalwart added that whereas in 2011 he was the senior professional, Kohli now holds the identical title and he’s a brand new coach.

“I actually by no means thought I’d come right here as a coach 10 years later, however it’s good to have seen that journey, seen him develop from being a teenager to a senior participant on the journey. It has been nice for me to see that journey and I consider myself as somebody who’s a younger coach who’s beginning out his journey as properly. So I feel the tables have turned a bit bit,” Dravid concluded.

Kohli additionally revisited the tour over a decade in the past and narrated his expertise of sharing the dressing room with Dravid. He admitted that he may by no means have imagined that he would return to Dominica as an achieved participant on his first go to again in 2011.

“After we went into the dressing room, after we went to observe, I sort of remembered my first collection right here as a Take a look at participant. That is the nation the place it began, I imply the Caribbean, and it’s simply superb that to have the ability to come again right here after 12 years, having performed greater than 100 Take a look at matches, I’d have by no means imagined something like this,” the 34-year-old mentioned.

The previous Indian captain additional stating that life has come full circle when it comes to his and Dravid’s modified roles after 12 years.

“It’s fairly superb, I informed Rahul bhai yesterday as properly, I mentioned you’d by no means have imagined that 12 years later we can be coming again to the identical venue and you may be the pinnacle coach and I’d have performed greater than 100 video games, nobody would have guessed that one. I’m simply blessed that we’re the one two members from the final journey. Nonetheless right here in several capacities, it’s like life has come full circle and the journey has been fairly superb,” the Delhi-born signed off.

Right here’s the video: 

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2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣1️⃣ – Workforce members

2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣3️⃣ – Head Coach & Batter

12 years on Rahul Dravid & Virat Kohli reminisce some particular Dominica recollections 😊#TeamIndia | #WIvIND | @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/HRkBLS2Lam

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 12, 2023

Notably, the primary Take a look at match between the West Indies and India will kickstart the World Take a look at Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle for either side.