(AP Photo)
During the T20 World Cup trophy celebration last month, Rahul Dravid, typically known for his composure, revealed a rare glimpse of emotion. Following India’s victory over South Africa in the final, securing their second championship in history, Virat Kohli presented the trophy to Rahul, who couldn’t contain his joy.
His enthusiastic celebration even brought smiles to the faces of his fellow Indian cricketers. This memorable moment from the final was particularly special for offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
“My moment was when Virat Kohli called Rahul Dravid and gave him the trophy. I saw him hug the cup and cry. Rahul Dravid screamed and cried. I saw him enjoy. I felt that a lot,” Ashwin said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Dravid’s coaching journey has come full circle since his tenure as India’s captain during the disappointing 2007 ODI World Cup in the Caribbean. While he never lifted a World Cup trophy as a player, his coaching career has seen notable success, with two significant titles to his credit. The first triumph was in 2018 at the U-19 World Cup, where India defeated Australia in the final.
Despite these accomplishments, Dravid remains humble about his achievements. He doesn’t view coaching as a form of personal redemption for his playing career, expressing instead that he simply wasn’t fortunate enough to clinch a World Cup victory during his time as a player.
“There is no redemption. I’m not one of those guys who think about redemption and those kind of things. As a player, I was not lucky enough to win a trophy. But I tried my best, I gave my best whenever I played and it wasn’t to be, and that happens, it’s part of sport,” Dravid said.
“There are a lot of other players I know who have not been able to win a trophy. I was lucky to be given the opportunity to coach a team and I was lucky that this bunch of boys made it possible for me to win this trophy,” he added.
Following the conclusion of his tenure as India’s coach at the T20 World Cup, Rahul Dravid reflected on the experience as a “Great journey.”
“It’s a nice feeling, but it’s not like I’m aiming for some redemption. It’s just a job that I was doing. I’ve loved doing this job. I have loved working with Rohit [Sharma] and this team. It’s been a great journey and I really enjoyed it,” he said.
