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Rahul Dravid, the architect of India’s T20 World Cup 2024 victory, has revealed the challenges of coaching a team brimming with superstars such as captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, R Ashwin, and Jasprit Bumrah.
Transitioning from coaching at the U19 level to leading the senior squad, Dravid provided insights into the complexities of managing a dressing room filled with both positive and challenging egos, and uniting a team of iconic cricketers.
Rahul Dravid unveils the secrets behind India’s T20 World Cup 2024 success.
The former Team India head coach explained that his strategy for managing the team was not about battling egos, as often misunderstood, but about harnessing the collective strength of the players.
Dravid clarified that despite the common belief that handling superstars could be challenging, the true success stemmed from the mutual respect and commitment within the squad. This cohesive spirit significantly contributed to the Men in Blue’s success.
Rahul Dravid said in a video posted by Stars Sports on X: “I can’t completely take all the credit for that. I believe the teams are really led by the group of senior players and the captain. I think it was a privilege to work with Rohit. In these two and a half years, I think he was a fantastic leader. People really gravitated towards him, and I think that makes a big difference.”
Dravid reveals how he effectively coached India’s star-studded cricket team.
He emphasized how senior players like Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravichandran Ashwin showed remarkable humility and an exceptional work ethic. Dravid countered the common belief that these cricketing legends possess large egos, revealing instead that their drive was rooted in a shared dedication to achieving excellence and securing victories for their country.
Dravid underscored that the collective effort, spearheaded by the supportive captain Rohit Sharma and a group of experienced players, was crucial in guiding the team to success. Under his leadership, India reached both the ODI World Cup and the WTC final in 2023. He also attributed the positive team environment to the strong synergy between himself, Rohit, and the senior members of the squad.
The former Indian head coach further explained, “I have a lot of other senior players like Virat, Bumrah, and Ashwin in Test cricket. People sometimes think that they have big egos and they are very difficult to manage just because a lot of Indian cricketers are big names and they are superstars, and rightly so, and they’re followed by so many people.”
It was a privilege to work with very humble superstars: Dravid
“But actually, I think it’s just the opposite. A lot of these superstars are actually very humble about their preparation. They are humble about their work ethic. And that is why they are superstars. At times you have to manage them, manage their bodies, manage the workload—a lot of those things. But to be honest, it was not very difficult.”
In conclusion, Dravid expressed that working with these players was both a privilege and a pleasure, and he took great satisfaction in fostering a positive team environment. He emphasized, however, that much of the credit should go to captain Rohit Sharma and the senior players, who were instrumental in driving the team’s success.
