Talking about the moment, India’s veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said that he was deeply moved when Dravid embraced the ICC T20 World Cup trophy and shed tears after guiding the team to their first ICC title in 11 years during his final assignment as coach.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said, “My moment was when Virat Kohli called Rahul Dravid and gave the cup… I saw him hug the cup and cry. Rahul Dravid screamed and cried. I saw him enjoy it. I felt that a lot.”
Dravid, a batting legend, had never won an ICC title during his playing career.
In the days following the T20 World Cup triumph, it was announced that former India opening batsman and double World Cup-winner Gautam Gambhir would succeed Dravid as the new head coach.
Gambhir is set to commence his tenure with the upcoming white-ball tour of Sri Lanka, which is scheduled to begin on July 27.
Ashwin acknowledged Dravid’s accomplishments, even in the face of adversity and disapproval throughout his playing and coaching career, such as the early elimination from the 2007 50-over World Cup.
“I want to talk about a person who is sacred. 2007, 50-over World Cup. India gets knocked out. Rahul Dravid, the captain at that point in time. He does not captain the one-day side after that. He has been with the Indian team. If something does not go well, if the Indian team goes out, if they lose a match, immediately, they ask what Dravid is doing,” said Ashwin.
“I know what he has been doing with this team for the past two-three years. I know how balanced he has been. I know how hard he has worked to change this approach. I know what he has given each of his players. Even when he is just sitting at home, he has been planning how to do this and that,” he concluded.
In the thrilling conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2024, India’s batting duo of Virat Kohli and Axar Patel played crucial roles in setting a competitive target. Kohli’s impressive knock of 76 runs, combined with Patel’s quick-fire 47, helped India reach a total of 176 for 7, bringing them closer to realizing their dream of lifting the trophy.
The Indian bowlers faced a challenging task in defending the total, but they held their nerves in a tense finish. The pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh proved instrumental in securing the victory. Bumrah’s miserly spell of 2/18, Pandya’s crucial 3/20, Arshdeep’s euqally critical 2/20 in the death overs suffocated the opposition’s chase, ultimately leading to a narrow seven-run win for the ‘Men in Blue,’ as they clinched their second T20 World Cup title.