'Hope We'll Still Be Friends': Rahul Dravid Reveals Which India Player He'll Miss The Most
T20 World Cup 2024 tournament marks head coach Rahul Dravid's final assignment with the Indian cricket team.
With head coach Rahul Dravid witnessing all the nerve-wracking live action from the dugout, Team India ended their 11-year ICC title drought with a seven-run victory over South Africa in a thrilling T20 World Cup 2024 finale.
The T20 World Cup 2024 tournament marks head coach Rahul Dravid's final assignment with the Indian cricket team. The former India captain, who never won a World Cup trophy as a player, provided mentorship and vision to Rohit Sharma's team, leading them to this historic day.
After the triumph, coach Dravid said he will miss Rohit Sharma the person most.
"I will miss him as a person forget the cricket, forget the captain and everything. I just hope we will still be friends.
"I think what's really impressed me in all of the these is the kind of person that he is, the kind of respect he has shown me, the kind of care and commitment he has had for the team, the kind of energy, and he has never backed down from it," Rahul Dravid, whose tenure as India coach ends now, said.
"So, for me, it's the person that I will remember the most...he will be a great captain, he will be a great player, he will win trophies but I think it's the person that I am most fond of," the former India skipper was full of admiration for Rohit.
Don't believe in words or things like redemption, says Dravid
"Firstly, there is no redemption. I am not one of those guys who thinks about redemption and those kind of things. There are a lot of other players I know who have not been able to win a trophy.
"I was lucky to be given the opportunity to coach, and I was lucky that this bunch of boys made it possible for me to be able to win a trophy and celebrate.
"Nice feeling, but it's not like I am aiming for some redemption, it's just a job that I was doing. I loved doing the job, I loved working with Rohit and this team. It's been a great journey and I have really enjoyed it." Dravid called the title triumph the memory of a lifetime.
"Just phenomenal, just lovely to be a part of a dressing room like this. It's a memory of a lifetime for me, so I am thankful and grateful to the team and the support staff who have made this possible."
Dravid said he is also not much into things like legacy.
"I am not a legacy person, I am not looking for legacies, I just feel glad that we could give our best. I think I have been lucky to have been working with an exceptionally professional bunch, intelligent bunch of coaches and other support staff who have made it possible to create a fantastic environment.
"I am glad that a bit of luck has resulted in this trophy. I couldn't be happier for this team, and I couldn't be happier for so many of the Indian fans who are coming out to these games."
It is expected that former India opener Gautam Gambhir will soon be appointed as the new team India head coach.