Mental health a challenge, important to maintain balance: Rahul Dravid

Former India captain and batting great Rahul Dravid feels maintaining good mental health is a "big challenge" in a "tough game" like cricket and players should strike a balance in everything y do to overcome stress of busy schedules and uncertain futures.  Speaking to an online sports portal, Dravid, who is National Cricket Acemy (NCA) Director, said it is difficult to cope when one spends considerable time on sidelines.  "It is a big challenge. This is a tough game. re is so much competition, a lot of pressure, and kids are playing all year round w. It is a game in which you do sometimes spend a lot of time waiting around, having a lot of time to think," he said when asked for his take on issue. 

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Three Australian cricketers, including seasoned Glenn Maxwell and young Will Pucosvski, recently took a break from game, citing mental health issues. India skipper Virat Kohli lauded Maxwell for opening up on subject and recalled a time in his own career when he battled "end of world" thoughts but struggled to communicate m.  Dravid, who is mentoring India's young cricketers in multiple roles, said stiff competition demands that players pay eugh attention to ir well-being.

"....you really need to look after yourself on and off field, and look after stuff like mental health. That's again something that, as much as we talk to se boys about, it's really important to maintain a certain level of balance in everything you do," he said. 

"Be able to find that balance between t getting too excited when you succeed and t getting too disappointed when you fail. I just think being able to le a slightly balanced life potentially helps."

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Dravid said as NCA Director, he has been trying to put a system in place where professional help is at hand when a player needs it.

"re has been some work on that as well, wherein eventually we'll get to a point where hopefully we should have professionals on board. I think sometimes some of se things need to be handled by professionals," he said.

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"I don't think some of coaches, or some of us, have ability to deal with some of issues. Some things we might be able to, but re may be some things where we might need to look at professional help.

"It's one of things we are definitely keen on doing at NCA: giving some of se boys access to some level of professional help if y do require it."

'Important to maintain balance'

Speaking about upcoming Under-19 World Cup in January-February next year, Dravid said those who don't make it to squ would t be judged as it does t end of ro for m. Likewise, he said, selection in squ does t mean that player will definitely make senior team in future. "Just because you've played a World Cup doesn't mean you will play for India, and just because you haven't played a World Cup doesn't mean you won't. It's a nice achievement to have, but it's t be-all and end-all of everything," Dravid said. Talking about emergence of India's much-feared pace battery, led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, Dravid said y are inspiring youth. "...I think what Ishant (Sharma), (Mohammed) Shami, Umesh (Yav), Bhuvneshwar Kumar and (Jasprit) Bumrah are doing, is y are actually in a way becoming role models for a lot of younger generation of boys who believe w y can be fast bowlers.  "Obviously we h people like Kapil (Dev), Sri (Javagal Srinath), Zaheer (Khan) and all in past. But as a group, this is probably one of best fast-bowling attacks we have ever h. I think that's a great inspiration for a lot of se young boys." 

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