Rahul Dravid’s journey came full circle when he won an ICC title in the West Indies, but this time as a coach. Back in 2007, Dravid was the captain of the Indian team that got knocked out early in the ODI World Cup, not even reaching the Super 8 stage.
Dravid became the head coach of the Indian team in 2021 and stepped down after the 2024 T20 World Cup. Reports say he left to focus on his family.
Now, let’s look at the five best moments of Dravid’s time as head coach for the Indian team.
1. Embracing Virat Kohli after the 2022 T20 World Cup victory over Pakistan in Melbourne
Virat Kohli played his best T20 game, scoring 82 not out from 53 balls against Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Melbourne. He teamed up with Hardik Pandya, who scored 40, to make a 113-run partnership, leading India to a thrilling victory. Cricket fans and players worldwide reacted with excitement.
Rahul Dravid praised Kohli for his amazing performance. He gave Kohli a warm hug and shared words of appreciation.
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2. Guiding the Indian squad to the 2023 World Cup final
After India finished as runners-up in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2021, they were expected to do well in the 2021-23 cycle too. They met these expectations by drawing the away Test series against England and winning home series against Australia, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand.
They had a setback with a loss away against South Africa but still finished second in the WTC standings, securing a spot in the final. In the final, India lost to Australia by 209 runs. Despite this, the Indian team was praised for maintaining their strong form in Test cricket.
3. Taking Team India to 2023 World Cup final
The 2023 World Cup was held in India, where many fans came to support the national team. Everyone wanted India to win the ICC title, just like in 2011.
The Indian team played amazingly and won all nine group games, finishing at the top of the points table. Led by Rohit Sharma, they were the favorites to win. In the semifinal, they beat New Zealand by 70 runs.
But in the final, India scored only 240 runs and couldn’t defend the total. Despite the disappointment, fans and the cricket community praised the team’s great performance in the tournament.
4. Negating the Bazball threat and winning 4-1 over England
A lot was expected from England when they toured India in early 2024. Cricket experts thought highly of England’s “Bazball” style of aggressive batting and were eager to see how it worked on Indian pitches.
England started the series with a win, showing their positive approach in both innings. However, the skill of Indian bowlers like Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja stopped England’s “Bazball” style, and India won the series 4-1.
Even without star players Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, India’s less experienced batsmen, combined with their experienced bowlers, made the victory possible.
“Proud of the team. Losing the first Test was disappointing, but bouncing back was great. We always find players to step up under pressure,” Dravid said in the post-match interview.
5. After winning the 2024 T20 World Cup, expressing his feelings
After India’s tough loss in the 2023 World Cup, fans hoped they would win the 2024 T20 World Cup. India did well, staying undefeated and making it to the knockout stages.
In the semifinal, they beat England by 68 runs, getting revenge for their 2022 T20 World Cup loss. The final was an exciting match against South Africa in Barbados.
India scored 176 runs, and their bowlers were expected to defend it because they had been in great form. With South Africa needing 30 runs from 30 balls, they seemed likely to win.
But Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Hardik Pandya turned the game around, leading India to a seven-run victory. The win brought joy across the country and made the players and support staff very emotional.
Head coach Rahul Dravid lifted the trophy passionately, celebrating wildly with the team. This moment was special for Dravid, as he finally won an ICC trophy, marking a happy end to his cricket career.
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