New Delhi: It has almost been a month since India lifted the coveted T20 World Cup 2024 trophy in Barbados, defeating South Africa in a nail-biting final to end their 11-year-old ICC trophy drought. The ultimate triumph brought numerous celebrations from the entire Indian contingent, varying from the players to the support staff to their families and friends, and star India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has opened up on the moment that stayed with him from the wild celebrations.
After the huge win, Team India was all emotional and had to shift their emotions very quickly to get onto the podium to receive the trophy. It was at this point that the players called the support staff as well, helmed by then-head coach Rahul Dravid, who went to the podium as Virat Kohli handed over the trophy to him. What followed next was indeed a rare sight as the much-revered coach “screamed and cried” in joy, letting out all of his emotions with the trophy aloft.
Ravichandran Ashwin has expressed that that particular moment will remain etched in his memory, admitting that it was indeed a special moment for the 51-year-old Dravid, who couldn’t win an ICC title as a player but redeemed it as a coach.
“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,” Ashwin said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Was Dravid scared?
Ashwin also reckoned that Dravid was scared of being in the leadership of another campaign in the Caribbean because back in the 2007 ODI World Cup, the Indian team had made a group stage exit.
“I want to talk about a scared person. (In) 2007, (the) 50-over World Cup. India gets knocked out. Rahul Dravid (was) the captain then. 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, or if they lose a match, immediately they ask what Dravid is doing,” he said.
The off-spinner also acknowledged all the hard work put in by Dravid during his stint as India’s head coach, saying that he brought the side to balance and changed the approach.
“I know what he has been doing with this team for the past two to 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 added.
It is highly noteworthy that during Dravid’s stint as the head coach, India reached the finals of the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup 2023 but lost to Australia on both occasions.
Out of the numerous celebrations by the Indian contingent on winning the T20 World Cup 2024, Ravichandran Ashwin recently revealed his favourite of all and the reason is indeed heartwarming! Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
