Rahul Dravid, typically known for his composure, expressed a departure from his usual demeanor following India‘s T20 World Cup triumph. He expressed immense gratitude towards his team for enabling him to experience a feeling he missed out on as a player — the exhilaration of becoming a world champion.
As head coach, Dravid watched from the dugout while captain Rohit Sharma effectively managed the team’s resources. India maintained their composure to secure a thrilling seven-run victory over South Africa in the final, clinching the T20 World Cup and ending an 11-year drought of ICC titles.
“I really have felt short of words over the last few hours. I just could not be more proud of this team, the way we had to fight difficult situations,” Dravid said after the triumph.
“Even today I think it was a great testimony… for the team to lose three wickets in the first six overs, to be in the kind of position we were in, but the boys just kept fighting, they kept believing.”
“You know, as a player, I was not lucky enough to win a trophy, but I tried my best whenever I played and it happens, it’s part of sports,” the 51-year-old added.
Rahul Dravid dismissed ‘redemption talk’ due to not winning an ICC trophy as a player
The victory in the Caribbean also represents a form of redemption for Dravid, as he led India to a disappointing first-round exit in the 2007 ODI World Cup held in the same region.
However, Dravid emphasized that he doesn’t place importance on concepts like redemption or accolades, downplaying his role as the team’s head coach.
“Firstly, there is no redemption. I am not one of those guys who thinks about redemption and those kind of things. There are a lot of other players I know who have not been able to win a trophy.”
“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 be able to win a trophy and celebrate.”
“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. As It’s been a great journey and I have really enjoyed it.”Dravid, whose tenure as India’s coach concludes now, described the title triumph as a lifelong memory.
“I am not a legacy person, I am not looking for legacies, I just feel glad that we could give our best. I think I have been lucky to have been working with an exceptionally professional bunch, intelligent bunch of coaches and other support staff who have made it possible to create a fantastic environment.”
Their excellent rapport contributed significantly to fostering the essential team environment for success at the highest level. They hold immense mutual respect, and Rohit dedicated the victory to Dravid.
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