Thank You Dravid: Coach Calls Time After T20 World Cup

 

The curtains are coming down on the Rahul Dravid era for Indian cricket. The stalwart batsman, who donned the India coach hat in November 2021, has confirmed that the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 will be his farewell. While this wasn’t entirely unexpected, Dravid’s official announcement puts a definitive stamp on the team’s search for a new head coach come July.

 

Speaking to reporters, Dravid acknowledged the weight of this World Cup, but insisted on maintaining his usual focus.  He said that every game is important, highlighting his unwavering dedication throughout his tenure.

 

“Every tournament is important, every game that I’ve coached for India has been very important for me. For me, this is no different just because it is going to be the last one that I’m in charge of. I love doing the job. I’ve really enjoyed coaching India, and I think it’s a truly special job to do. I’ve enjoyed working with this team, and it’s a great bunch of boys to work with. Unfortunately, just the kind of schedules [that are in place in international cricket] and where I find myself in this stage in my life, I don’t think I’ll be able to re-apply. Having said that, it’s no different for me to be very honest. I don’t see this anything particularly different or significant. From the first day I took the job, I always felt that every game was important and every game mattered, and that will not change.”

 

However, the demanding schedule of international cricket, coupled with his personal circumstances, has led Dravid to make the tough call of not seeking a re-appointment.

Dravid, a titan of Indian cricket, never clinched a World Cup trophy as a player, despite reaching the finals in 2003. As a coach, he has come tantalizingly close on three occasions across formats – the 2022 T20 World Cup, the 2023 World Test Championship final, and the 2023 ODI World Cup final.

 

“To be very honest, I think we’ve actually played really well in these World Cup tournaments. In terms of our consistency, we’ve been very consistent. Making the semi-final in the first, in the T20 one in Australia [in 2022]. The World Test Championship is slightly different in terms of it’s not one tournament, but it’s a whole cycle, but playing extremely well in the cycle to get to the final there again [in 2023]. The 50-over World Cup where we had a great run and went into the final [in 2023]. In terms of our consistency, in terms of the quality of cricket that we have played in these big tournaments, I think we’ve been right up there with some of the best teams.”

 

“We can’t say that we’ve not played good cricket in these tournaments. Yes, we probably haven’t been able to get across the line in that one knockout game. The [2023 ODI] final in Ahmedabad or the [WTC final] game at The Oval and then again at Adelaide in the T20 semi-final. So, we just probably haven’t been able to execute in that last phase. Hopefully we play good cricket to get ourselves into those positions again. Then maybe play good cricket on the day to get across the line. But the important thing when you start these tournaments is not to think about that. It is to actually think about getting into those positions again. I think that’s as hard as actually winning those games at times. You have to find yourselves in those positions where you are pushing for glory, and that’s all you can do as a group and as a team. Our whole goal will be to try and get ourselves once again into a position where we give ourselves a chance to be able to, um, win a tournament.”

 

Dravid recognizes the immense expectations that come with helming the Indian cricket team. However, he emphasizes the importance of prioritizing tactical decisions and on-field execution over external pressures.

 

“To be able to read and understand conditions that will be different in various places,” Dravid said. “It’s our ability to use our experience. It’s our ability to execute in the middle. It’s our ability to make the right decisions whether with the bat or with the ball at those critical moments, which will be the defining factor. We would rather focus on that rather than kind of worry about the expectations. Of course, there are expectations and it’s a great thing that people are rating our team highly because that means that we’ve been playing good cricket and we’ve got a good squad together.”

 

The cricketing fraternity and fans across India will be watching closely as Rahul Dravid leads his team in the T20 World Cup. While this chapter closes in July, Dravid’s contribution to Indian cricket will undoubtedly be remembered for years to come.