NEW DELHI: Indian men's cricket team captain
Rohit Sharma
shared a heartfelt note for former head coach
Rahul Dravid
on Instagram. Reflecting on Dravid's tenure, which concluded after leading the team to glory in the
T20 World Cup
, Rohit expressed deep gratitude and admiration for his mentor.
Hailing Dravid as a 'confidant,' Rohit wrote, "I have been trying to find the right words to properly express my feelings on this, but I’m not sure I ever will.
So, here’s my attempt."
"Since my childhood days, I have looked up to you just like billions of others but I was lucky enough to get to work with you this closely. You are an absolute stalwart of this game but you left all of your accolades and achievements at the door and walked in as our coach and came on a level where we all felt comfortable enough to say just about anything to you. That is your gift, your humility and your love for this game even after all this time. I have learnt so much from you and every memory will be cherished. My wife refers to you as my work wife and I’m lucky to get to call you that too," he added.
"This was the only thing missing from your arsenal and I’m so happy that we got to achieve it together. Rahul bhai it has been an absolute privilege to get to call you my confidant, my coach and my friend." he further noted, giving a perfect tribute to Dravid's effective leadership and strategic acumen.
Following the disappointment of losing the final of the ODI World Cup in November 2023, there was a moment when Dravid contemplated resigning from his coaching position. However, a persuasive conversation with the team's captain, Rohit, led him to reconsider and remain on board until the T20 World Cup.
A few months later, defying all odds as South Africa appeared to be on track to chase down India's score of 176 for 7, India emerged victorious by a margin of seven runs at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. This win not only secured the T20 World Cup for India but also marked the end of a 17-year wait for this prestigious title.
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