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Rahul Dravid, the legendary cricketer, had a remarkably successful tenure as head coach of the Indian cricket team, fulfilling a dream he couldn’t achieve as a player and captain—lifting the World Cup.
Despite some painful memories from his playing career, Dravid now cherishes numerous unforgettable moments as a coach. Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, India triumphed in the T20 World Cup 2024, defeating South Africa by seven runs in the final held in Barbados on June 29th.
Rahul Dravid concluded his tenure as India’s coach with a triumph in the T20 World Cup 2024, marking India’s first ICC trophy since their 2013 ICC Champions Trophy victory. This success was a testament to Dravid and his team’s dedication and hard work over the past four years. Dravid assumed the coaching role in November 2021, initially for a two-year term, which was extended to include the recent T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and West Indies.
During his tenure, Team India reached the finals of the World Test Championship (WTC) and the ODI World Cup last year, narrowly missing out on the elusive trophy. However, in June, they clinched the T20 World Cup, ending an 11-year ICC title drought and providing a fitting farewell for Dravid, as well as retiring captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from T20I cricket.
Following his successful stint, Dravid chose not to reapply for the head coach position, paving the way for Gautam Gambhir to likely assume the role as India’s next coach.
Rahul Dravid’s celebratory moment has left a lasting impression on Suryakumar Yadav, who finds it particularly meaningful. Known for his composed demeanor and strong values, Dravid, often referred to as “The Wall” for his batting resilience, typically maintains a disciplined and reserved approach on and off the cricket field.
However, following India’s victory in the T20 World Cup 2024, Dravid’s emotions overflowed. When Virat Kohli passed him the prestigious trophy during the presentation ceremony, Dravid celebrated exuberantly, displaying a rare outburst of joy reminiscent of a young player. This heartfelt expression deeply resonated with fans, especially with Suryakumar Yadav.
Yadav expressed that he will forever cherish the memory of those 30 seconds when Dravid celebrated with unrestrained happiness upon lifting the T20 World Cup trophy. He remarked that witnessing Dravid in such high spirits was a unique and unforgettable experience.
Suryakumar Yadav was quoted as saying by The Indian Express: “That 30-second clip when he took the trophy in his hand and screamed… that moment when he expressed his happiness. I think I will save that clip for life.”
Suryakumar Yadav shared insights into why Rahul Dravid expressed gratitude to Rohit Sharma following India’s victory in the T20 World Cup 2024. According to Yadav, Dravid thanked Rohit for persuading him to continue as head coach after the disappointment of the ODI World Cup 2023 loss to Australia. This decision, influenced by Rohit’s encouragement during a pivotal phone call, ultimately enabled Dravid to achieve his long-held aspiration of guiding India to World Cup success, albeit in a coaching capacity.
