Departing India’s head coach Rahul Dravid gave his gratitude to Rohit Sharma for convincing him to stay after the ODI World Cup disappointment. India was dominant throughout the ODI showpiece in the home conditions but could not get over the line against the potent Australian team.
The Men in Blue had won 10 matches on the bounce in the World Cup but could not bring their best in the summit clash. However, India was able to end their major ICC title hoodoo after lifting the T20 World Cup title in Barbados on Saturday.
Dravid said he didn’t want to continue after the ODI World Cup final loss but Rohit wanted to have another crack in the T20I event.
“I wasn’t sure if I was going to continue after the 50-Over World Cup, and obviously, there was a great joy of having had a fantastic campaign but also a little bit of disappointment in the final that we could not get over the line,” Dravid recalled during a felicitation ceremony for the Indian cricket team at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.
“For Rohit to pick up the phone and say, ‘Rahul, let’s have one more crack at it in six or eight months’ time. It will be lovely to have a crack at it together’. I am so thankful because I had the chance to work with an exceptionally great bunch of boys. But also experience what I have experienced in Barbados and to experience what I have done here. Truly grateful and probably one of the best phone calls that I have received in my life,” Dravid said.
Under Dravid’s tutelage, India made it to the semifinal of the 2022 T20 World Cup, and the final of the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup 2023.
