For India, 13 long years separated them from their last World Cup title. But for Rahul Dravid, the wait was even longer – a staggering 28 years since his international debut. Finally, after years of dedication as both player and coach, Dravid got to hold that coveted trophy aloft.ย With his role as head coach coming to an end after a five-year tenure, this victory held even greater significance for Dravid.
The weight of years spent striving for this goal was evident in his heartfelt locker room speech after their nail-biting win against South Africa on Saturday. “Words escape me right now,” Dravid began with emotion, “but I just want to say thank you… to everyone… for making me a part of this incredible memory. I know you’ll all cherish these moments. Your career might fade in your memory, but moments like this, they stay with you forever. So let’s truly savor this. I couldn’t be prouder of each and every one of you.”
This win marked the culmination of a five-year journey filled with both triumphs and tribulations for Dravid at the helm. Twice, India reached the pinnacle of major ICC tournaments only to fall short.
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The most agonizing loss undoubtedly came in 2023, on home soil, when they were defeated by arch-rivals Australia in the ODI World Cup final. Devastated by that defeat, Dravid contemplated stepping down as coach, hesitant to extend his contract. However, a turning point arrived in the form of a phone call.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ-๐ช๐๐๐! ๐ซก
The sacrifices, the commitment, the comeback ๐
๐ฝ๏ธ #TeamIndia Head Coach Rahul Dravid’s emotional dressing room speech in Barbados ๐๐ #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/vVUMfTZWbc
โ BCCI (@BCCI) July 2, 2024
“There’s one person I want to thank specifically,” Rahul Dravid continued. “Ro (Rohit Sharma), thank you so much for reaching out to me back in November and convincing me to stay on. It’s been an absolute privilege working with everyone here, but Ro, a special thanks to you for the time we spent together.”
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He acknowledged the complexities of their roles, “As captain and coach, we have countless conversations โ agreements, disagreements, all part of the process. But thank you for everything. It’s been incredible getting to know each of you beyond the game. But now, this moment truly belongs to you, the players. Remember, it’s not about individuals, it’s about a team. We achieved this together.”
As the saying goes, all’s well that ends well. And for India and Dravid, the ending couldn’t have been sweeter, finally etching their names in World Cup history after a long and arduous journey.
