Rahul Dravid recalls receiving phone call from Rohit Sharma after 2023 ODI World Cup Final defeat

In November 2023, when India was defeated by Australia in the final of the ICC ODI CWC, many questions were raised on the captain-coach duo of Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid despite having been undefeated throughout the tournament. The 2024 ICC T-20 World Cup was scheduled to be the final tour of Rahul Dravid as the Indian. It however proved to be memorable. “Rohit called and said, ‘Rahul, let’s have another crack'. I think that was the best phone call of my life,” Rahul Dravid said while addressing the crowd at the Wankhede Stadium after the victory procession of the Indian team in Mumbai. 

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It was in many ways a moment of redemption for Rahul Dravid. He was the captain of the Indian squad in the 2007 World Cup which was held in the West Indies. India did not proceed beyond the group stage owing to humiliating defeats against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. To emerge as the coach of the world cup winning team 17 years later makes for an intriguing Bollywood movie script. Rahul Dravid’s emotions were visible when he lifted the trophy. “This is a fantastic note to sign off on. I am going to miss all this love. What we have been seeing today and what I have heard since the win shows how India makes cricket brilliant. These boys are like family. The amount of work these boys have done (is incredible) and they are constantly looking to get better. As coach and support staff, we couldn’t have asked for anything more. We are privileged to have been able to coach this team,” Dravid added.