Coach Rahul Dravid found it immensely challenging witnessing the overwhelming display of emotions in the dressing room after India’s defeat to Australia in the World Cup final.
The aftermath of India’s loss to Australia in the final was deeply emotional; Rohit Sharma, visibly distraught, bypassed the customary handshakes and headed straight to the dressing room, while captain Kohli appeared teary-eyed and desolate. Throughout the field and behind closed doors, the Indian team and support staff grappled with profound disappointment despite a commendable campaign. Sachin Tendulkar was seen comforting each player, revealing a scene of collective heartbreak, which was challenging for coach Rahul Dravid to witness.
WATCH THE VIDEO | Near Miss for India: Final Defeat to Australia Leaves Rohit Sharma Heartbroken
“There was a lot of emotions in that dressing room. It was tough to see as a coach because I know how hard these guys have worked, what they’ve put in, the sacrifices they’ve made. So, it’s tough. I mean, it’s tough to see that as a coach, because you get to know these boys personally. You get to see the effort they put in, the hard work that we’ve put in over the last month, the kind of cricket we’ve played,” said Dravid at the post-match press conference.
“But yeah, but that’s sport. That happens. It can happen. And the better team won on the day. And I’m sure that the sun will come up tomorrow morning. We’ll learn from it. We’ll reflect. And we’ll move on, as will everyone else. I mean, that’s what you do as sportsmen. You have some great highs in sport, and you have some lows in sport. And you keep moving on. You don’t stop. Because if you don’t put yourself on the line, you don’t put yourself in games like these, you don’t experience the great highs. And neither do you experience the great lows,” he added.
India, batting first, witnessed a strong beginning led by captain Rohit, following the tournament’s established blueprint. However, they failed to sustain substantial partnerships, losing wickets consistently, particularly during the crucial middle-overs, where Australia applied stifling pressure. Dravid lamented the pattern of losing wickets at pivotal moments, expressing a feeling of being 40 runs short.
Despite their defeat in the final, India’s consistent clinical displays showcased a well-structured team, guided by Rohit’s exceptional leadership.
“I think he’s been an exceptional leader. You know, Rohit’s really led this team fantastically well. I just think he’s given so much of his time and energy in the dressing room to the boys. And his batting as well, I thought it was fantastic, the way he set the tone for us. We knew that we wanted to play a certain way. We wanted to play a positive attacking brand of cricket. And he wanted to lead by example,” explained Dravid.
Rohit Sharma acknowledged the defeat, stating, “The result has not gone our way. We were not good enough today. We tried everything but it wasn’t supposed to be.”
Last Updated on November 20, 2023
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