Shastri to consult Dravid to find out talent from India A pool

Indian team Director Ravi Shastri today said he would soon consult India A coach Rahul Dravid to identify players who are ready for top-level cricket so as to strengthen an already strong talent pool.

"We have a very good bench strength. In fact, I am going to have a chat with Rahul Dravid to find out talents, not necessarily been among runs and wickets," he told reporters at National Cricket Academy where Team India is undergoing a camp ahead of the tough India-South Africa home series here.

"If somebody is getting runs in heaps and taking wickets regularly, that's fine, but there may be talents who haven't scored heaps of runs and yet they are ready for top-level cricket. Those are things on which I want to interact with Rahul," he said.

Dravid is in the best position to know the talent in India A team as he has been with the boys for quite some time now, Shastri said.

"The fact that the amount of cricket Dravid has played, he would be in a better position to quickly understand who can bridge the gap," he said.

Shastri lauded Dravid for working overtime to groom the younger crop of players.

"Dravid is doing a wonderful job by giving more time to young kids by working with India A players after his retirement," he added.

"The fact that he is giving so much of time for young team after bidding adieu to cricket is simply brilliant. I think he is doing a wonderful job there," he said.