Mumbai, July 9: There are a lot of similarities between the two cricket icons of India. Not much in the way they bat, but in their conduct, mannerism and commitment to Indian cricket.
The two legends are low profile, men of less words, honest, hard working and always put the team cause ahead of their personal milestones.
Both of them were completely devastated when India lost the ODI World Cup Final in Ahmedabad on November 19, 2023 to Australia. Both were shell shocked. There was no certainty if they would be able to carry on in their respective roles for Team India.
But they did. They coaxed, consoled and encouraged each other to carry on. They indeed did well. Their joint efforts and team's faith in them, brought several wins for India across formats at home and abroad.
But the final frontier was conquered when they scripted history by winning the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. They did sign off in style commanding respect and appreciation from millions of Indians.
Team India's outgoing Head Coach Rahul Dravid and the World Cup winning captain Rohit Sharma have a lot in common. Their pain, struggle, hard work and conquest moments speak volumes about their character, self belief and commitment towards Indian cricket.
Dravid admitted that it was Rohit who requested him to continue as Team India Head Coach after the ODI World Cup 2023 heartbreak.
Now, Rohit has paid a heartfelt tribute to Dravid, the Head Coach after their historic triumph. Rohit took to his Instagram to share a special post with Dravid as he penned down an emotional message for the outgoing team India head coach.
Indeed, it was a fairytale ending for Dravid's stint as Team India's Head Coach as his last day at the office witnessed India lift the T20 World Cup after 17 years.
Though Dravid was an integral part of Team India from 1996 to 2012, he was not a member of the Indian teams that won the 2007 T20 World Cup or the 2011 ODI World Cup. The calm and ever composed Dravid was at his animated best as he lifted the silverware on June 29, 2024.
In his emotional post for Dravid, Rohit has addressed him as his confidante, coach, elder brother and friend. He went onto joke about how his wife, Ritika Sajdeh, calls Dravid as his 'work wife' and how Rohit found himself lucky to call him that.
Many may not be aware that Rohit made his international debut under Dravid's captaincy.
The two great servants of Indian cricket, may not have hogged the limelight like some of their contemporary cricketers, but together they scripted history and let India lift the World Cup again.
