Rohit Sharma emotionally revealed he tried to convince India head coach Rahul Dravid to stay on, expressing his deep appreciation for working with Dravid.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma recently shared his efforts to persuade head coach Rahul Dravid to remain in his role, but ultimately, Dravid has decided to step down after the T20 World Cup. Dravid, who took on the head coach position in November 2021, confirmed that this tournament will be his final assignment with the Indian team.
Rohit expressed his deep appreciation for working with Dravid and noted the significant impact Dravid had on the team. Despite his attempts to convince Dravid to stay, Rohit acknowledged his need to focus on other responsibilities. When asked about a farewell, Rohit became visibly emotional, highlighting the respect and admiration the team holds for their coach.
“I tried convincing him (Dravid) to stay, but obviously there are a lot of things that he needs to look after as well. But yeah, I personally enjoyed my time with him,” said the skipper.
“I’m sure the rest of the guys will say the same. It’s been great working with him. And I’m not going to say anything actually. I’m not going to say anything,” he added.
Rohit also praised Dravid’s inspiration and guidance, emphasizing the significant impact Dravid has had on his career and life.
“He was my first international captain when I made my debut in Ireland. Then I’ve seen him play while I was just coming into the team (for) Test matches when he was captain. And such a big role model for all of us. Growing up, we watched him play and we know what he has achieved, personally as a player and also what he’s done for the team over the years. Battling out the team from difficult situations and that is what he’s known for,” he reminisced.
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As India prepares for the World Cup opener against Ireland, Rohit further expressed his gratitude for Dravid’s influence and the valuable lessons learned during their time together. The respect and admiration for Dravid remain strong within the team, even as he steps down from his role.
“He’s shown a lot of great determination throughout his career and that is something that when he came here as a coach, I wanted to learn from him. It’s been very fruitful. Other than the big silver (trophy), we won all the major tournaments and series. I’ve enjoyed every bit of it, working with him, deciding what direction the team needs to head. And for him to buy into that thought, obviously makes a huge difference. And he was the first one who came and said, ‘this is what we need to do as a team’. No matter what happens, but at least we’ll give it a good shot at it when he arrived,” Rohit concluded.
Last Updated on June 5, 2024
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