Former captain Rahul Dravid to mentor India in Test series with England

The 41-year-old retired from Test cricket in 2012 after a glittering career in which he scored 36 hundreds in 164 matches.

Dravid was one of few bright notes in India's last Test series in England, though his three centuries were not enough to stop the hosts securing a 4-0 whitewash.

India's preparations for the latest series, which starts at Trent Bridge on July 9, began in inauspicious circumstances following a draw in a three-day match with Leicestershire.

Sanjay Patel, secretary for the Board of Control for Cricket in India, has now revealed that coach Duncan Fletcher has requested Dravid's assistance.

"It was the coach who approached us on behalf of the team and said it would be good to have Rahul with his vast experience spend some time with the boys ahead of the series," Patel told ESPNcricinfo.

"We immediately requested Rahul and he readily agreed."

The move marks Dravid's first involvement with the national team since his retirement.