Former India head coach Rahul Dravid has opened up about his working relationship with Rohit Sharma, offering rare insights into how the pair built one of the most successful partnerships in recent Indian cricket history. Speaking candidly on Ravichandran Ashwin’s YouTube channel, Dravid praised Rohit not only for his cricketing acumen but also for his ability to emotionally connect with teammates, creating a relaxed yet purposeful team environment.

According to Dravid, Rohit’s leadership style stood out for its balance of care and clarity. He highlighted that the Indian captain genuinely cared for his players’ well-being, ensured the dressing room atmosphere remained light and cheerful, and always maintained clear communication about his goals. This, Dravid said, was a defining factor in shaping India’s performances under Rohit.

“I always felt he deeply cared about the team. Right from the first day, he was very clear about how he wanted to run the team and what was important to him. That kind of clarity is invaluable for a coach. I always believed it should be the captain’s team, and Rohit led it in exactly that way,” Rahul Dravid said, emphasizing the trust he placed in the skipper’s vision.

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Dravid also reflected on how his coaching philosophy seamlessly aligned with Rohit’s leadership. Having been a captain himself, he knew that the skipper must set the tone for the team, while the coach’s role is to provide support, perspective, and clarity. “A captain has to lead the team in terms of the direction he wants to go in. You have to help him in that journey,” Dravid explained.

The duo’s partnership bore fruit almost immediately. Together, they guided India to consistent performances across formats, highlighted by a memorable run to the final of the 2023 ICC World Cup. Though the heartbreaking loss to Australia in the final left Dravid contemplating stepping down, Rohit’s encouragement played a decisive role in convincing him to continue. That decision proved pivotal as India went on to end their 11-year ICC trophy drought by winning the 2024 T20 World Cup in Barbados under Dravid’s guidance and Rohit’s captaincy.

“Rohit was very clear in how he wanted the atmosphere to be. His experience allowed him to create that balance in the team. My job was to challenge him at times but also ensure he was comfortable. Once he was in that space, he was calm, composed, and able to lift the team. He never got too high or too low emotionally, and that rubbed off on everyone else,” Rahul Dravid revealed.

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Their relationship, however, went beyond cricket. Dravid cherished the personal bond he developed with Rohit, one built on trust, open conversations, and shared respect. The coach fondly recalled evenings where they could sit together without the pressure of cricket, sharing meals and conversations that went deeper than just match strategies.

Rohit Sharma himself acknowledged this closeness when, in a farewell note at the end of Dravid’s tenure, he mentioned that his wife Ritika had jokingly referred to Dravid as his “work wife.” Reflecting on Rohit’s journey, Dravid also spoke about the pride he felt in seeing Rohit grow from a young U19 cricketer—whom he handed his first India cap—to becoming a respected leader of the national team.

“His biggest strength has always been his ability to emotionally connect with players. You could talk to him, challenge him, and he would never take it personally. That quality makes him not just a good captain, but also a great person to work with,” Rahul Dravid concluded.

The bond between Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma remains one of Indian cricket’s defining partnerships of recent years. Built on clarity, calmness, and mutual respect, it not only delivered results on the field but also set an example of how a coach-captain duo can shape the culture of a team for the better.