Indian spin veteran Ravichandran Ashwin recently shared an emotional moment from Rahul Dravid’s tenure as the head coach of the Indian cricket team.
Ashwin revealed that he truly felt the emotion when Dravid, in his final assignment as coach, hugged the ICC T20 World Cup trophy and cried after leading the Men in Blue to their first major trophy in 11 years.
Dravid’s stint with India as head coach culminated in a remarkable victory as India beat South Africa by seven runs in the final on June 29. This win marked a significant milestone for the legendary cricketer, who had never won a major ICC World Cup trophy as a player or captain. Dravid’s last international assignment as a coach ended on a high note, and his successor, former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir, was announced in July, set to start his tenure with a white-ball tour to Sri Lanka from July 27 onwards.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin recounted, “My moment was when Virat Kohli called Rahul Dravid and gave the cup… I saw him hug the cup and cry. Rahul Dravid screamed and cried. I saw him enjoy it. I felt that a lot.”
Ashwin paid tribute to Dravid’s resilience and dedication, despite facing criticism and setbacks throughout his career. Referring to the 2007 50-over World Cup first-round exit, Ashwin highlighted Dravid’s continuous efforts and his impact on the team. “I want to talk about a person who is sacred. 2007, 50-over World Cup. India gets knocked out. Rahul Dravid, the captain at that point in time. He does not captain the one-day side after that. He has been with the Indian team. If something does not go well, if the Indian team goes out, if they lose a match, immediately, they ask what Dravid is doing,” said Ashwin.
Ashwin further elaborated on Dravid’s influence over the past two to three years, stating, “I know what he has been doing with this team for the past two-three years. I know how balanced he has been. I know how hard he has worked to change this approach. I know what he has given each of his players. Even when he is just sitting at home, he has been planning how to do this and that.”
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