NEW DELHI:
Rohit Sharma
and
Rishabh Pant
recently reflected on the key figures who have profoundly influenced their careers. In a video released by Star Sports, they discussed how MS Dhoni and
Rahul Dravid
have significantly shaped their growth as cricketers and individuals.
Rohit, who recently retired from T20 Internationals after leading India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup, expressed deep admiration for Dravid.
He credited Dravid's guidance as pivotal to his success, especially during the recent
T20 World Cup
in the Americas where Dravid served as head coach.
On the other hand, the young and energetic wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant spoke highly of Dhoni's invaluable mentorship. Pant highlighted how Dhoni’s wisdom and experience have been crucial to his development as a player.
"Look, my relationship with him goes back a long way, starting from when he was my first international captain in Ireland," Rohit said.
"He's been a tremendous role model for us all. We've seen what he's achieved both personally and for the team, often pulling us out of tough situations. His determination throughout his career was something I wanted to learn from when he came in as a coach. It has been incredibly beneficial, and besides the World Cup, we've won several major tournaments and series under his guidance," Rohit added.
Pant echoed similar sentiments about Dhoni, saying, "Not just on the field, but off the field as well, MS Dhoni is always there to support and guide me. He’s my go-to person whenever I’m unsure, and he encourages me to develop my own thought process."
WATCH:
Dravid's coaching era ended on a high note with India winning the T20 World Cup in Barbados, defeating South Africa to secure the title for the second time since 2007.
Under Dravid’s leadership, India also dominated England in a five-match Test series at home and reached the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup.