After India’s ICC T20 World Cup win, legendary cricketer Rahul Dravid delivered an emotional farewell speech, marking the end of his tenure as the team’s head coach. Dravid expressed heartfelt gratitude to the team, the support staff, and particularly to captain Rohit Sharma for his steadfast support and commitment.
Dravid’s time as head coach concluded on a high note with a World Cup victory. Speculation surrounds his successor, with names like Gautam Gambhir and WV Raman being considered for the role. The new head coach will assume duties during the Sri Lanka tour later in July, while NCA chief VVS Laxman will lead a restructured team to Zimbabwe for a T20I series starting on July 6.
In a poignant video released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India or BCCI, Dravid found it challenging to articulate his appreciation. “I am really at a loss for words, but I want to thank everyone for making me a part of these incredible memories. These moments are what you’ll remember, not just the runs or wickets. I couldn’t be prouder of you all. The resilience, the fight, the teamwork – it’s what got us here. The entire country is proud of your achievements,” he said.
Dravid acknowledged the sacrifices made by the players and their families, highlighting the collective effort behind the team’s success. He gave special thanks to Rohit Sharma for persuading him to continue after the heartbreaking loss in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup final against Australia.
“Ro, thank you so much for making that call in November and asking me to stay on. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to work with you all. As captain and coach, we’ve had to chat, discuss, agree, and disagree, but thank you for all those moments,” Dravid added.
He also expressed his gratitude to the BCCI for their efforts behind the scenes, ensuring a smooth tenure.
In the final match of the T20 World Cup, India, after opting to bat first, faced early trouble at 34/3. However, a counter-attacking partnership between Virat Kohli (76) and Axar Patel (47 off 31 balls) steadied the innings, followed by a crucial 57-run stand between Kohli and Shivam Dube (27 off 16 balls), leading India to 176/7. South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj (2/23) and Anrich Nortje (2/26) were the standout bowlers.
In response, South Africa was reduced to 12/2 before a 58-run partnership between Quinton de Kock (39 off 31 balls) and Tristan Stubbs (31 off 21 balls) revived their chase. Heinrich Klaasen’s quickfire 52 off 27 balls posed a significant threat, but India’s bowlers, led by Arshdeep Singh (2/18), Jasprit Bumrah (2/20), and Hardik Pandya (3/20), made a strong comeback to restrict South Africa to 169/8.
Virat Kohli was named ‘Player of the Match’ for his performance, and India celebrated their first ICC title since the Champions Trophy in 2013, ending a long-standing ICC trophy drought.
