2024-06-30 17:50:02
Rahul Dravid had to wait and wait and wait. Dravid had to wait until he was 51. He had to wait until he had already lost a World Cup final as a player (2003) and as a coach (2023). He had to wait after it had seemed India would win on November 19, 2023, and he had to wait until he let his emotions take charge in Barbados in 2024. The pain of not winning the World Cup as a player must have subsided after his tenure as India’s head coach got a glorious closure with the T20 World Cup triumph.
As soon as he got a feel of the trophy, respectfully brought to him by Player of the Match Virat Kohli, Rahul Dravid let out a roar so ferocious it seemed he was finally releasing the emotions he typically keeps hidden from public view. It was a rare moment for Dravid, who is known for his calm and composed demeanour, seldom giving quotes that ignite headlines but always remaining steadfastly committed to his role, much like Gary Kirsten.
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In that exhilarating moment, Dravid set aside his usual stoic persona, fully embracing the triumph as India finally went all the way, fulfilling the dreams of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Rahul Dravid, who just like most of his playing career, stayed in the shadows, but had a telling impact on this bunch of boys. A key attribute of the Rohit-Rahul tenure has been backing their players, giving them a long rope and not chopping and changing.
DRAVID’s TENURE
Rahul Dravid’s tenure as India’s head coach was marked by scrutiny even before his official appointment. Seen as the ‘Next One’ during a short white-ball series against Sri Lanka in mid-2021, this stint served as his audition for the high-pressure role he assumed full-time in November 2021.
From the outset, Dravid faced the challenge of living up to the lofty legacy of his predecessor, Ravi Shastri, under whom India enjoyed significant success, including back-to-back away series wins in Australia. While Dravid never toured Australia as a coach, he managed to defeat them in various formats at home. However, a loss and a drawn Test series against a ‘weaker’ South African side lingered as a disappointment for Dravid, who always valued victories away from home as the gold standard.
Dravid had to navigate the unique challenges of Indian cricket culture, managing a dressing room full of superstars—a scenario he was familiar with from his playing days. Aware that any discord could be magnified, he relied on his ability to gauge people and situations, implementing his methods without dismantling the existing system. This approach, in collaboration with captain Rohit Sharma, created a balanced atmosphere that allowed players to excel.
Under Dravid’s leadership, India’s supremacy in T20I cricket became evident. Since their pivotal bilateral series against New Zealand in November 2021, India won 48 out of 69 matches, achieving a commanding win percentage and a win-loss ratio of 2.82. This success positioned India as the top-ranked team in the ICC T20I rankings, significantly ahead of Australia, which had a win-loss ratio of 1.75. However, the semi-final loss to England in the 2022 World Cup remained a blemish on India’s stellar T20I record under Dravid.
India’s ODI performance saw a downturn from early 2020 until early 2022, highlighted by an 11-loss streak in 18 matches and a 3-0 defeat in South Africa. However, the partnership of Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma in ODIs began with a resounding 3-0 victory against the West Indies in February 2022, signalling a resurgence.
Under Dravid and Rohit’s leadership, India achieved notable victories, including defeating reigning World Cup champions England on their home turf in 2022 and displaying dominance at home. India won 10 out of 13 bilateral ODI series, with an impressive win-loss ratio of 3.4, winning 41 out of 56 ODIs during this period.
India looked the best team by far on their way to the World Cup 2023 final at home but it was not meant to be on November 19 as Australia thwarted the hosts in Ahmedabad. In addition to dominating the bilateral limited-overs series, Dravid led India to the finals of the World Test Championship and the 50-over World Cup in 2023. After a disappointing exit from the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE, India under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma and Dravid’s guidance, adopted an aggressive batting strategy. Their goal was to overhaul their approach and compete consistently with teams like England and Australia in global tournaments.
REDEMPTION? NO
The T20 World Cup glory in the Caribbean was seen by many as a form of redemption for Rahul Dravid, who had captained India during their first-round exit in the 2007 ODI World Cup in the same region. Rahul Dravid was the captain of the Indian team in 2007 when the Asian giants exited the ODI World Cup in the group stage after losses to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, sparking critical reactions back home. Following this shock exit, Dravid stepped down from the captaincy and continued to play white-ball cricket under MS Dhoni. Notably, Dravid, along with Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, did not participate in the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007, which India went on to win in South Africa. However, Dravid himself dismisses such notions, downplaying his contribution as head coach.
“Firstly, there is no redemption. I am not one of those guys who thinks about redemption and those kinds of things. There are a lot of other players I know who have not been able to win a trophy,” Dravid remarked. “I was lucky to be given the opportunity to coach, and I was lucky that this bunch of boys made it possible for me to win a trophy and celebrate.”
Expressing his gratitude, Dravid added, “It’s a nice feeling, but it’s not like I am aiming for some redemption. It’s just a job that I was doing. I loved doing the job, I loved working with Rohit and this team. It’s been a great journey, and I have really enjoyed it.”
As Dravid’s tenure as India coach concludes, he cherishes the memory of the T20 World Cup victory as a highlight of his career.
“Just phenomenal, just lovely to be a part of a dressing room like this. It’s a memory of a lifetime for me, so I am thankful and grateful to the team and the support staff who have made this possible.”
DRAVID’s LEGACY
In the deepest corners of his mind, Rahul Dravid will rue the missed opportunity of winning the 50-over World Cup at home after his side succumbed to Australia in the final. While the World Cup win at Barbados might have eased that pain, it came in a format where Dravid, contrary to his innovative reputation, largely followed a conventional path. Reflecting on his tenure, Dravid, one of cricket’s finest batsmen and ambassadors, downplayed the idea of building a legacy, saying,
“I am not a legacy person; I am not looking for legacies. I just feel glad that we could give our best.”
Despite this, Dravid’s coaching stint will be remembered not only for the World Cup victory but also for his flawless handling of a team of high-profile individuals, creating an environment that allowed them to excel. This will be the legacy his successor will have to live up to—a daunting task indeed.
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