The good Rahul Dravid was not his common restrained self after India’s T20 World Cup glory and couldn’t thank his wards sufficient for serving to him reside what he ‘wasn’t fortunate as a participant’ to expertise – the heady feeling of being a world champion.
With head coach Dravid watching the motion from the dugout, skipper Rohit Sharma marshalled his assets superbly as India held its nerve to eke out a seven-run victory over South Africa in an exhilarating finale and win the T20 World Cup 2024 to finish an 11-year ICC title drought.
“I actually have felt in need of phrases over the previous few hours. I simply couldn’t be extra pleased with this group, the best way we needed to struggle troublesome conditions,” Dravid mentioned after the triumph.
“Even in the present day I believe it was an ideal testimony… for the group to lose three wickets within the first six overs, to be within the form of place we had been in, however the boys simply saved preventing, they saved believing.
“You already know, as a participant, I used to be not fortunate sufficient to win a trophy, however I attempted my finest every time I performed and it occurs, it’s a part of sports activities,” the 51-year-old added.
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The triumph within the Caribbean can be a form of redemption for Dravid, underneath whose captaincy India endured a forgettable first-round exit within the 2007 ODI World Cup on this a part of the world.
However Dravid mentioned he doesn’t consider in phrases or issues like redemption, enjoying down his contribution because the group’s head coach.
“Firstly, there is no such thing as a redemption. I’m not a type of guys who thinks about redemption and people form of issues. There are a variety of different gamers I do know who haven’t been capable of win a trophy.
“I used to be fortunate to be given the chance to educate, and I used to be fortunate that this bunch of boys made it attainable for me to have the ability to win a trophy and rejoice.
“Good feeling, but it surely’s not like I’m aiming for some redemption, it’s only a job that I used to be doing. I liked doing the job, I liked working with Rohit and this group. It’s been an ideal journey and I’ve actually loved it.”
Dravid, whose tenure as India coach ends now, known as the title triumph the reminiscence of a lifetime.
“Simply phenomenal, simply beautiful to be part of a dressing room like this. It’s a reminiscence of a lifetime for me, so I’m grateful and grateful to the group and the assist workers who’ve made this attainable.”
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Dravid, one of many best batsmen and ambassadors within the sport’s historical past, mentioned he’s additionally not a lot into issues like legacy.
“I’m not a legacy particular person, I’m not in search of legacies, I simply really feel glad that we may give our greatest. I believe I’ve been fortunate to have been working with an exceptionally skilled bunch, clever bunch of coaches and different assist workers who’ve made it attainable to create a unbelievable surroundings.
“I’m glad {that a} little bit of luck has resulted on this trophy. I couldn’t be happier for this group, and I couldn’t be happier for therefore lots of the Indian followers who’re popping out to those video games.”
His unbelievable equation with Rohit went a good distance in constructing the form of ambiance wanted for a group to succeed on the prime degree. Each have super respect for one another and Rohit devoted the victory to Dravid.
Dravid mentioned he’ll miss Rohit the particular person most. “I’ll miss him as an individual overlook the cricket, overlook the captain and every part. I simply hope we’ll nonetheless be mates.
“I believe what’s actually impressed me in all the these is the form of particular person that he’s, the form of respect he has proven me, the form of care and dedication he has had for the group, the form of vitality, and he has by no means backed down from it,” he mentioned.
“So, for me, it’s the individual that I’ll bear in mind probably the most…he shall be an ideal captain, he shall be an ideal participant, he’ll win trophies however I believe it’s the individual that I’m most keen on,” Dravid was stuffed with admiration for the captain.
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He mentioned the trophy is a end result of two years of intense onerous work and planning, refusing to limit it to 3 weeks of enjoying wonderful cricket.
“This can be a journey of (over) two years, this isn’t a journey of this T20 World Cup, the development of this group, the form of abilities we wished, gamers we wished, discussions began after I began in September 2021.
“The steadiness that we wished within the group, two years of labor, this isn’t only a work of this World Cup, I believe it culminated on this World Cup, it has all come collectively right here on a good looking afternoon in Barbados,” Dravid mentioned.
On a lighter word, he mentioned, “I will transfer on shortly from this win, subsequent week I shall be unemployed (laughs). I don’t need to assume too far forward, however sure, I hope, I will transfer on. I believe that’s what life is all about.”
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Dravid expressed optimism about Indian cricket’s future and mentioned the group will obtain loads of success within the coming years.
“In the present day’s gamers are unbelievable abilities in Indian cricket. Their confidence, their vitality, they’re on a distinct degree at this level of time.
“We’ve got been making an attempt to win an ICC trophy for a very long time, and I’m very hopeful that they may carry this confidence ahead and assist Indian cricket win many extra trophies within the subsequent five-six years.
“The power and expertise this bunch of boys have is super. There have been moments after we felt that we weren’t capable of win an enormous trophy regardless of giving our greatest. However in the present day, I can say with confidence, that they may proceed the great work and win extra trophies going forward,” Dravid signed off.