Emotions of 1.2 Billion Indians were at their peak after India defied all odds by winning the ICC T20 World Cup after 17 Years in Barbados. It was even more satisfying to see Rahul Dravid scream in joy by burying the ghosts of India's disastrous World Cup campaign back in 2007. But this T20 World Cup glory for Dravid as a coach would not have been materialized if it was not for Rohit Sharma.
Dravid was not ready to extend his contract after India suffered a heartbreaking loss to Australia in the ODI World Cup final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad last year. His contract was over and Dravid was not keen to continue. But it was Captain Rohit Sharma's phone call that changed everything.
“Thank you very much, Rohit, for making that call in November and asking me to continue. It's been such a privilege and a pleasure to work with each and every one of you, but also with Ro. Thank you for your time. I know as captain and coach, there are a lot of times we have to chat. We have to agree; we have to disagree. It's been brilliant to know each and every one of you,” Dravid said in a video posted by BCCI.
Rahul Dravid’s role as coach of India was very successful as Team India reached the WTC Championships Final in 2023, World Cup Finalists and making India the most consistent team across all three formats. Dravid played an instrumental role in making India World Champions after 13 years since that Iconic World Cup win of 2011 in Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
After the win, Rohit also lauded the contributions of Dravid as India’s coach. "He - more than any one of us, I think he deserved that 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. I am very happy from all of us on behalf of the entire team that we could actually do this for him. You saw how proud he was and how excited he was. Really grateful to the occasion for this to happen as well," Rohit said after the victory