South Africa U19 Starlet Jason Rowles thanks Rohit Sharma coach Dinesh Lad for Transformation

Add as a preferred source on Google

When South Africa's U19 star Jason Rowles talks about his recent rise in cricket, one name consistently surfaces - Dinesh Lad. A month-long training stint in India with the renowned coach, best known for mentoring Indian captain Rohit Sharma, turned out to be a game-changing chapter in Rowles' young career.

"Coach Dinesh changed my grip, giving me more power," Rowles recalls. It may sound like a small tweak, but it was the foundation of a transformation that would soon reflect in numbers, awards, and accolades.

A Month in India, A Lifetime of Lessons

Jason's journey to India wasn't just about honing technique - it was about sharpening his mindset and understanding the nuances of elite-level cricket.

"The month in India with Dinesh helped me tighten up the basics," he says. Under Lad's meticulous eye, Rowles worked on balance, footwork, and shot selection - the small details that often define a good player from a great one.

And the results spoke for themselves. "After my trip to India, it really helped me achieve many prestigious awards and made me Man of the Match in many covered tournaments," he says with pride.

The Rise After the Reinvention

Back home, Rowles began to stack up accolades like a seasoned pro. In May, he was named Batsman and Player of the Year for the Men's Central Lions Awards - a prestigious honour in the South African domestic setup.

His purple patch extended to the Fuskin Time Cricket Tournament, where he emerged as the Batsman of the Tournament with the most runs.

Soon after, he donned national colours - at just 16 years old, he was selected to the U19 Proteas Men's team to face Zimbabwe, not just as a player, but as captain, and walked away with the Player of the Match award in the first ODI.

He carried that form into other key tournaments:

U19 Coke Week - standout performer

U19 National Week - Batsman of the Tournament with the most runs

U19 Proteas vs England (Cape Town) - Selected again and named Player of the Test Series

The Lad Legacy

Dinesh Lad is a name etched in Indian cricket's grassroots development. Most notably, he coached Rohit Sharma during his school days at Swami Vivekanand International School in Mumbai. It was Lad who spotted Rohit's potential as a batsman and pushed for a scholarship that changed the then-off-spinner's life. The former Western Railway player is also a key figure behind the emergence of Shardul Thakur, who is currently donning the Lucknow Super Giants shirt in IPL 2025.

His attention to technical detail, discipline, and player management has made him a sought-after mentor beyond Indian borders. For someone like Rowles, working with Lad wasn't just a training camp - it was a masterclass.

"The training I received from Coach Dinesh has helped me stay consistent. He's one of my pillars, with weekly check-ins and mentoring even after I returned to South Africa," Jason notes.

In an era where talent can be spotted anywhere, and coaching has no geographic limit, Jason Rowles' story is a perfect testament to the impact a great mentor can have - even halfway across the world.

From a technical adjustment to a complete mental revamp, Dinesh Lad's influence on Rowles mirrors what he once did for Rohit Sharma - unearth potential, polish it with discipline, and prepare it for the world stage.

If Jason's early run is anything to go by, South Africa may have found its next batting superstar - one shaped in the lanes of Mumbai, under the watchful eyes of the coach who once gave India a "Hitman."