Former Indian skipper and current India A and India under-19 coach Rahul Dravid has backed cricketers Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul regarding the controversy surrounding their appearance on the Indian reality show ‘Koffee With Karan.’

Pandya and Rahul were met with severe criticism following their sexist remarks in the TV show, whereby the BCCI issued a temporary suspension on the players. Following the ban lift, the 46-year-old Dravid who had coached the duo at multiple levels said that the trouble they landed themselves in might actually act as a catalyst to steer them in the right direction. He also added that upon reaching their potential, they could be role models for their fans. “I have coached both of them at various levels. I somehow just don’t feel that interview truly reflected the players. Hopefully, they will come back better and stronger from this. I will say honestly, I do believe that both of them have not yet achieved their obvious potential that they both have, and maybe this might be the catalyst that would lead them to reflect and help them reach the level and potential they can achieve in all forms of the game. If they can do that they can certainly be role models,” the India A coach said. He previously requested people to not overreact as mistakes have been made by several players in the past.

Pandya has joined the Indian team for the New Zealand series while Rahul has joined the India A Squad that is currently playing a series of one-day matches against the England Lions in Trivandrum.