Former Indian hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh has drawn inspiration from cricket legend Rahul Dravid’s coaching philosophy and aims to follow a similar path in his post-playing career. Sreejesh, a celebrated figure in Indian hockey, is keen on contributing to the development of future hockey stars by nurturing young talent, much like Dravid did for Indian cricket.
Sreejesh envisions creating a strong feeder system for the national hockey team, working closely with junior and emerging players to ensure a steady flow of top-level talent into the senior team. He sees Dravid’s journey—from guiding India’s U-19 and A teams to eventually coaching the senior national team—as a model to emulate within the hockey setup.
"I want to become a coach. That has always been my plan, but the timing is important. After retirement, family comes first, so I need to discuss this with them. Now, you have to listen to your wife a little bit," Sreejesh shared with PTI.
He added, "I’d like to start with the juniors. Rahul Dravid is a great example. It’s about developing a group of players, bringing them into the senior team, and guiding them along the way."
Sreejesh’s long-term goal is to rise through the coaching ranks and eventually take on the role of chief national coach by the time of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. He believes that by investing in the growth of young players now, India can assemble a team capable of competing at the highest level for years to come.
"My plan is to begin this year. In 2025, we have the Junior World Cup, and two years after that, the senior team will be playing in the World Cup. By 2028, I hope to have developed 20 to 40 players, and by 2029, I could have 15 to 20 players ready for the senior team. By 2030, I aim to have 30 to 35 players in the senior side," Sreejesh explained.
He continued, "By 2032, I will be ready for the chief coach’s position. If India hosts the 2036 Olympic Games, I want to be the India coach."
Sreejesh played a pivotal role in India’s bronze medal victory at the recent Paris Olympics, adding to his legacy after also being part of the team that won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics three years prior.