June 4th 2024.
Rahul Dravid, the head coach of the Indian cricket team, recently confirmed that the upcoming T20 World Cup will be his last tournament in this position. He took over the role in November 2021 and with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) inviting applications for the job last month, it was not expected for him to reapply.
As India gears up for their World Cup opener against Ireland, Dravid expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to coach the team. He stated that every tournament and game he has coached for India has been important to him, and this one is no different. When asked if this tournament holds more significance as it marks his last one in charge, Dravid replied, "I love doing this job. I've really enjoyed coaching India and it's a truly special job to do. I've enjoyed working with this team and they're a great bunch of boys, but unfortunately, due to my schedule and stage in life, I won't be able to reapply. So yes, this will be my last one, but to be honest, it's no different from the first day I took the job. Every game matters and that will not change."
India's main goal in this tournament is to finally win an ICC trophy and give a perfect farewell to their coach. As for the team's opening pair, Dravid kept his cards close to his chest. While Rohit Sharma is expected to open alongside Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal is also a strong option. Dravid mentioned that they have multiple options and will choose based on the conditions and desired combination for each game.
The pitches at Nassau County ground have been a topic of discussion due to their variable bounce and slow outfield. However, Dravid stated that his team is not complaining and they will adapt to the conditions. He said, "We had three practice sessions here and the wicket improved after the third session. But a wicket is a wicket, we don't want to label it as good or bad. We have to manage and adjust to it, so we won't complain."
The recent IPL saw an average score of 200, but in this tournament, it seems like a winning score. Dravid acknowledged this and said, "In T20 cricket, we won't be able to play like that in every game, especially in this venue. We will play in different venues, so we will have to adapt accordingly." He also mentioned that the team will have to fight and make 140 if that's the winning score in some matches, while in others, a score of 200 may be needed.
When asked about the team's performance in past ICC events, where they failed to cross the finishing line, Dravid defended the players. He said, "To be honest, I think we've played really well in these World Cup tournaments. In terms of our consistency, we've been very consistent." He mentioned the team's semi-final run in Australia and making it to the final of the World Test Championship as examples. He also pointed out their good run in the 50-over World Cup, where they made it to the final. Dravid believes that the team has been playing at a top level in these big tournaments, but they just couldn't execute in the last phase. He hopes that they can replicate that level of consistency and finally cross the line this time.
As the coach, Dravid's aim is for the team to play good cricket and put themselves in a position to win. He said, "When you start these tournaments, you shouldn't think about winning, but rather focus on getting into a position where you can push for glory. That's all you can do as a team." He added that the important thing is to not think about past defeats, but rather focus on playing good cricket and finding themselves in those positions again.
Dravid also mentioned that he is missing the usual buzz and excitement that comes with a world event, especially in a country where cricket is not one of the major sports. However, he hopes that once the Indian team starts playing and the fans start coming in, the excitement will be just as high.
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