Rohit Sharma started his India career under the captaincy of Rahul Dravid when he made his ODI debut in June 2007. 17 years later, the two would combine in different capacities to win a T20 world cup with Rohit as captain and Dravid as the head coach.
Dravid fondly remembers working with Rohit having known him as a young boy.
“I have really enjoyed working with Rohit,” the outgoing India coach told BCCI. “He is someone I knew as a young boy. Just to see him grow as a person, grow as a leader in Indian cricket. He is someone who is able to contribute to the team in the last ten or twelve years, both as a player and now as a leader. It has been a real tribute to him and the effort he has put in, the time he has put in. I really enjoy getting to know him as a person as well.”
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Dravid’s association with the Indian team as coach ended with the world cup win in Barbados while Rohit too has retired from T20Is although he will be available for Tests and ODIs.
One of the greatest batters to have played the game, Dravid says he’s fascinated by Virat Kohli’s ambition to keep improving.
“I only had a chance to work with him (Kohli) in a couple of series, in a couple of Test matches when he was the captain. I am getting to know him as well. His desire to improve, his desire to get better is fascinating to watch,” he said.
Dravid never won a world cup during his playing career although he came close to winning one when India qualified for the final in 2003 ODI World Cup.
As a coach, he led them to the finals of the ICC World Test Championship and ODI World Cup in 2023 but the wait continued as India finished as the runners-up both the times.
Dravid’s dream of winning a world cup finally turned into reality when India beat South Africa in a thrilling finale of the 2024 T20 WC in Barbados.
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