India's head coach Rahul Dravid expressed immense relief after securing the elusive T20 World Cup title in Barbados on Saturday, marking a significant achievement in his tenure. Previously scrutinized for India's losses in two consecutive ICC finals—the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup against Australia—Dravid finally broke the decade-long title drought for India.
In a tense match, India triumphed over South Africa by seven runs to claim their second T20 World Cup trophy. Following the victory, Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma announced their retirements from T20Is.
Reflecting on his bond with Rohit, Dravid emphasized their personal connection beyond cricket and leadership roles. “I will miss him as a person forget the cricket, forget the captain and everything. I just hope we will still be friends. I think what’s really impressed me in all of these is the kind of person that he is, the kind of respect he has shown me, the kind of care and commitment he has had for the team, the kind of energy, and he has never backed down from it."
The 51-year-old coach praised the team's resilience and their ability to perform under pressure in crucial moments of the blockbuster clash, establishing themselves as the new T20I champions. "I am incredibly proud of this team. Despite losing early wickets, they never gave up," Dravid remarked.
Dravid acknowledged the emotional significance of winning the T20 World Cup after India's disappointing exit in the 2007 ODI World Cup under his captaincy. However, he dismissed any notion of personal redemption, attributing the victory to luck and the team's effort.
“Firstly, there is no redemption. I am not one of those guys who thinks about redemption and those kind of things. There are a lot of other players I know who have not been able to win a trophy. I was lucky to be given the opportunity to coach, and I was lucky that this bunch of boys made it possible for me to be able to win a trophy and celebrate,” Dravid said.
“Nice feeling, but it’s not like I am aiming for some redemption, it’s just a job that I was doing. I loved doing the job, I loved working with Rohit and this team. It’s been a great journey and I have really enjoyed it.
Dravid expressed his satisfaction with the team's achievement, emphasizing that luck played a role in securing the trophy. “Just phenomenal, just lovely to be a part of a dressing room like this. It’s a memory of a lifetime for me, so I am thankful and grateful to the team and the support staff who have made this possible. I am not a legacy person, I am not looking for legacies, I just feel glad that we could give our best. I think I have been lucky to have been working with an exceptionally professional bunch, intelligent bunch of coaches and other support staff who have made it possible to create a fantastic environment.
“I am glad that a bit of luck has resulted in this trophy. I couldn’t be happier for this team, and I couldn’t be happier for so many of the Indian fans who are coming out to these games.”
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