Process vs aggression: Dravid and Ponting's philosophies collide

NEW DELHI: They are two of the finest No. 3s to have performed the game. Just 90 Test runs separate Ricky Ponting and Rahul Dravid. Their pedigree as coaches, alternatively, may come all the way down to how the present Delhi Daredevils crew plays in the IPL - a crew which started a process of transition in the remaining two seasons.

The phrase 'process' has dominated proceedings, like it had at one point in Indian cricket, and Dravid has been at the centre of this philosophy for most of it. The likes of Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant have shaped the core of the Daredevils, evolving under Dravid in the remaining two years.

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Dravid, the designated custodian of Indian cricket, has his wards from India U-19s and 'A' crew unfold around the teams. To excel at the next level calls for different conditioning, if one goes via the general temper of India's next line of players. "Ricky is very aggressive. The first time he spoke to us gave goose bumps. Everyone who comes in talks generally about the process," Iyer used to be clearly in awe of Ponting's ways on Monday. "This guy talks about winning the tournament and doesn't mention the process and that has lifted the entire team," he added.

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The energy and urgency Ponting's manner of functioning is crowd pleasing. He's on his haunches to talk to Iyer about he wants him to way a knock in the heart and in the next moment he bends all the way down to Naman Ojha, busy placing his wicketkeeping tools on, and explaining a match scenario and skips around the floor as though he is nonetheless leading a facet in a big match.

Iyer, Pant, Vijay Shankar and Jayant Yadav boys have earned the India cap coming from Dravid's process. Yet, it is most likely time for these boys to transport out of the shadows of Dravid. "Rahul Dravid is more calm and cool. He likes to be in the process. He likes to nurture the kids, grooming the youngsters," Iyer takes a pause after which reframes his observation: "Ponting is obviously opposite but same frame of mind."

Iyer does not mind conceding Ponting is extra intent in injecting the Australian tradition in the Indian boys. A stint with the Indian senior crew has triggered a realization in these boys. "The atmosphere in the Indian dressing room is more similar to what Ponting is doing here," Shankar drew a parallel. "There's freedom to express yourself. Only one thing is spoken about we can keep winning," he added.

Then Iyer makes a particular point, "By aggression we mean freedom. Ponting doesn't talk about technique or skill."

The strutting tradition would possibly all smartly be the big trap. 'Atmosphere', 'excellent communique' and 'gelling' would possibly carry a extra flamboyant that means for these boys now. But then there is a 'process' leading to this point.