R Ashwin shares a moving story about the time when former Indian coach Rahul Dravid hugged the ICC T20 World Cup trophy and shed tears after securing India’s first significant ICC title in 11 years. This emotional moment came at the end of Dravid’s coaching period, as he guided the Indian team to their first major ICC trophy in 11 years with a close win of seven runs against South Africa on June 29. Dravid, who was a famous cricketer but never won a big ICC World Cup title as a player or captain, finally found satisfaction in his last job as the head coach.
In July, former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir was named as Dravid’s replacement, set to begin his coaching era on the white-ball tour to Sri Lanka starting from July 27. Ashwin praised Dravid’s achievements despite the challenges and disappointments he faced in his career as a player and coach, including the early exit in the 2007 50-over World Cup. Ashwin recognized Dravid’s positive influence on the team during the past few years, highlighting the changes he brought about.
“My special moment was when Virat Kohli handed Rahul Dravid the trophy. I watched Rahul hug it and shed tears of joy. He shouted and cried with happiness. I could see how much he enjoyed it. It really touched me. I want to mention someone who is respected. Back in 2007, during the 50-over World Cup, India was eliminated early. Rahul Dravid was the captain then. He didn’t lead the one-day team after that. He has always been part of the Indian team. Whenever things go wrong, like if India gets knocked out or loses a game, people quickly start questioning what Rahul Dravid is up to,” Ashwin shared on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin highlighted Dravid’s careful planning and strong dedication, saying, “I understand the efforts he has put into this team over the last 2-3 years. I see how well-balanced he has made the team. I know he has put in a lot of hard work to adjust their strategy. I know the individual attention he has given to each player. Even when he’s at home, he’s thinking about what steps to take next.”
