Rahul Dravid reveals reason behind continuing as head coach after CWC23 disappointment
After coaching India to T20 World Cup glory, Rahul Dravid revealed that he had no plans to continue as India head coach after the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 final defeat.
Rahul Dravid has revealed that he had decided to leave his role as India's head coach after his initial two-year term ended at the end of last year's Cricket World Cup.
He said that he had no intention of renewing his contract after the heartbreaking defeat against Australia in the final, but a call from his captain Rohit Sharma changed his mind.
"Ro, thank you very much for making that call to me in November and asking [me] to continue," Dravid said in a video posted by the BCCI.
"I think it's been such a privilege and a pleasure to work with each and every one of you, but Ro, also thanks for the time. There is a lot of time we have to chat, we have to discuss, we have to agree, we have to disagree at times, but thank you so very much."
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Dravid as a coach finally added silverware to his portfolio with the T20 World Cup title win after leading India to the final in both the ICC World Test Championship and ICC ODI Cricket World Cup in 2023.
Dravid, whose tenure ended after India’s triumph in the Caribbean, stated that he didn't believe in “redemption stories”.
This was in response to a question when he was asked whether it was satisfying to lift the World Cup on the same shores where India were knocked out in the group stages of the 2007 Cricket World Cup under Dravid’s captaincy.
"I'm not usually short of words but on a day like today, for me to be part of this, I could not be more grateful," Dravid said.
"For the respect, for the kindness, for the effort that each and everyone of you have shown to me, to my coaching staff, to my support staff.
Giving everything for T20 World Cup glory was Rohit Sharma.
"All of you will remember these moments. We always say, it is not about the runs, it is not about the wickets, you never remember your career but you remember moments like this, so let's really enjoy."
The successor for Dravid is yet to be announced, though VVS Laxman will take up the duties of head coach of a young Indian side that will play a five-match T20I series in Zimbabwe starting July 6.
Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, has stated that the new coach's first assignment will be the Sri Lanka white-ball tour in late July.