In a heartfelt tribute to the significant impact of Rahul Dravid on Indian cricket, captain Rohit Sharma expressed his desire to secure victory in the Cricket World Cup final against Australia as a fitting farewell gift to the revered head coach.
Reflecting on Dravid's unwavering support during the challenging times faced by the team in the T20 World Cup semifinal against England last year, Rohit highlighted the coach's resilience and leadership. "The way he stood by the players in difficult times during the T20 World Cup, we had a good run until that semifinal and we lost, and how he reacted to certain situations and informing the players about this is what we are looking at and all of that says a lot about him," remarked Rohit.
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Recognizing Dravid's monumental contribution to Indian cricket, Rohit said, "Obviously, what he has done for Indian cricket is massive. It's for us to do it for him," conveying the team's determination to win the World Cup for Dravid.
Despite the differences in their cricketing philosophies, Rohit emphasized the coach's role in providing clarity and supporting his ideas. "For him to agree and give me that freedom and liberty to go and play the way we want to play, that says a lot about him," expressed Rohit, acknowledging Dravid's influential role in shaping the team's strategies.
As the Cricket World Cup final unfolds, the Indian team aims to secure victory not only for the nation but also as a heartfelt tribute to the legendary Rahul Dravid, who may be concluding his tenure as head coach.
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(With PTI inputs)