T20 World Cup 2024 – Rahul Dravid confirms he won’t re-apply for India head coach place
Rahul Dravid has confirmed that the T20 World Cup 2024 shall be his final project as India head coach as he won’t be making use of for the place once more. It was largely anticipated, however this was the primary official affirmation that India may have a brand new coach come July.
Dravid confirmed it when requested if this World Cup was going to carry further significance for him. “Each event is necessary,” Dravid mentioned. “Each recreation that I’ve coached for India has been crucial for me. For me, that is no totally different simply because it will be the final one which I am answerable for. I really like doing the job. I’ve actually loved teaching India, and I feel it is a actually particular job to do. I’ve loved working with this workforce, and it is a fantastic bunch of boys to work with.
“Sadly, simply the type of schedules [that are in place in international cricket] and the place I discover myself on this stage in my life, I do not suppose I will be capable to re-apply. Having mentioned that, it is no totally different for me to be very sincere. I do not see this something notably totally different or important. From the primary day I took the job, I all the time felt that each recreation was necessary and each recreation mattered, and that won’t change.”
As a participant, Dravid performed a World Cup closing in 2003, however although he loved a stellar profession and was a part of the No. 1 Take a look at facet, he by no means bought to be referred to as a world champion. As a coach, he got here near it on three events, in all three codecs. This shall be his final likelihood for now to be a part of a world champion facet. Dravid, although, may step again and have a look at the bigger image.
“To be very sincere, I feel we have truly performed rather well in these World Cup tournaments,” Dravid mentioned. “By way of our consistency, we have been very constant. Making the semi-final within the first, within the T20 one in Australia [in 2022]. The World Take a look at Championship is barely totally different by way of it is not one event, however it’s an entire cycle, however taking part in extraordinarily nicely within the cycle to get to the ultimate there once more [in 2023]. The 50-over World Cup the place we had a fantastic run and went into the ultimate [in 2023]. By way of our consistency, by way of the standard of cricket that we now have performed in these large tournaments, I feel we have been proper up there with a few of the greatest groups.
‘It’s a must to discover yourselves in these positions the place you’re pushing for glory, and that is all you are able to do as a gaggle and as a workforce’•ICC through Getty Photographs
“We will not say that we have not performed good cricket in these tournaments. Sure, we in all probability have not been capable of get throughout the road in that one knockout recreation. The [2023 ODI] closing in Ahmedabad or the [WTC final] recreation at The Oval after which once more at Adelaide within the T20 semi-final. So we simply in all probability have not been capable of execute in that final part.
“Hopefully we play good cricket to get ourselves into these positions once more. Then perhaps play good cricket on the day to get throughout the road. However the necessary factor if you begin these tournaments is just not to consider that. It’s to really take into consideration moving into these positions once more. I feel that is as laborious as truly successful these video games at instances. It’s a must to discover yourselves in these positions the place you’re pushing for glory, and that is all you are able to do as a gaggle and as a workforce. Our complete aim shall be to attempt to get ourselves as soon as once more right into a place the place we give ourselves an opportunity to have the ability to, um, win a event.”
That sadly is just not sufficient if you’re the Indian cricket workforce. It comes with the territory of being essentially the most adopted cricket workforce on the earth. Dravid mentioned they would want to focus extra on their decision-making than expectations to get previous the knockouts hurdle.
“To have the ability to learn and perceive circumstances that shall be totally different in numerous locations,” Dravid mentioned. “It is our skill to make use of our expertise. It is our skill to execute within the center. It is our skill to make the precise choices whether or not with the bat or with the ball at these vital moments, which would be the defining issue. We might slightly concentrate on that slightly than type of fear concerning the expectations. In fact, there are expectations and it is a fantastic factor that individuals are ranking our workforce extremely as a result of that signifies that we have been taking part in good cricket and we have got a great squad collectively.”
Sidharth Monga is a senior author at ESPNcricinfo
