(BCCI Credit)
Rohit Sharma, the captain of the Indian team, dedicated the T20 World Cup title to Rahul Dravid, their head coach. The mutual respect between them was evident as Rohit expressed that this victory was specifically for Dravid.
Rahul Dravid had announced his decision to step down as head coach after the T20 World Cup. Having witnessed India reach several ICC finals as both player and coach without securing a major title, Dravid finally celebrated a significant ICC triumph.
Under Dravid’s coaching, India reached the finals of the WTC 2023, ICC World Cup 2023, and now the 2024 T20 World Cup. This victory marked a pivotal moment, as Dravid’s legacy as a coach has been instrumental in shaping the team’s journey.
Despite facing challenges and criticism during his tenure, Dravid’s perseverance and leadership have left an indelible mark on Indian cricket. Rohit Sharma, in his post-match conference, highlighted Dravid’s immense contribution and credited him with deserving the T20 World Cup trophy more than anyone else, reflecting on his enduring impact over the past two decades in Indian cricket.
“Rahul Dravid, more than anyone of us, deserved the World Cup trophy. What he has done for Indian cricket for the past 20-25 years… I think this was the only thing that was left in his cabinet. Very happy from all of us, on behalf of the entire team, that we could do this for him. You saw how proud he was and how excited he was,” Rohit said during the post-match press conference.
Rahul Dravid, the head coach of Team India, was visibly emotional as he celebrated with the players and held the T20 World Cup trophy on the podium. His joy was evident, and he expressed his emotions as he lifted the coveted trophy.
Speaking after India’s T20 World Cup triumph, Dravid emphasized that the victory was a culmination of meticulous planning and relentless hard work spanning the past two years. Reflecting on India’s loss in the T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final against England under his coaching, Dravid highlighted the subsequent dedication and effort put in behind the scenes by the team.
“This is a journey of two years. I think about the construction of the team, the players we wanted and the balance we wanted. The discussions started when we started in September 2022. It culminated in the World Cup but honestly the disappointment of Australia (in the 2022 World Cup where they reached semifinals) and World Cup final loss (in India last year) also contributed. This feels like a two-year journey, not one month. It all came together here on a beautiful afternoon here in Barbados” said Dravid
Rahul Dravid’s tenure as the Indian head coach concluded with the 2024 T20 World Cup final. He had informed the BCCI beforehand that he did not wish to extend his coaching tenure beyond the ICC event.
