'MORE THAN ANY ONE OF US, RAHUL BHAI DESERVED THAT TROPHY': ROHIT SHARMA HAPPY TO GIVE DRAVID A FITTING FAREWELL

After ending India's agonising 11-year wait for a global title with historic T20 World Cup 2024-win, captain Rohit Sharma said that he and his team were happy to give a fitting farewell to Rahul Dravid, who ended his tenure as head coach with the tournament.

It has taken Rahul Dravid almost three decades to lift a World Cup trophy with the senior team. What he couldn’t do as a player, Dravid has done as a coach as led India to their second ever World T20 trophy under his coaching.

In a rare show of emotions, Dravid screamed in joy as Virat Kohli handed him the trophy on Saturday after winning a see-saw final in Barbados.

"More than any one of us, Rahul bhai deserved that trophy. What he has done for Indian cricket for the past 20-25 years, I think this was the only thing that was left in his cabinet. I am very happy with all of us, on behalf of the entire team, that we could actually do this for him. You saw how proud he was and how excited he was. Really grateful to the occasion for this to happen as well," said Rohit during the post-match presentation.

Meanwhile, Dravid said that the T20 World Cup win was a journey of two years.

This was a journey of 2 years, this T20 World Cup. The construction of this team and the kind of skills we wanted, the players we wanted. The discussions started when I started in 2021. This is not the work of just this World Cup. It feels like a journey of two years," the Indian coach told reporters.

The 51-year-old also mentioned that he was lucky to get an opportunity to coach the team.

"As a player, I was not lucky enough to win a trophy, but I gave my best. I was lucky enough to be allowed to coach a team. I was lucky that this bunch of boys made it possible for me to win this trophy. It is a great feeling, it is not like I was aiming for some redemption. It was the job I was doing. It has been a great journey," Dravid said.

The former captain also showered praises on Rohit Sharma, saying that he will miss him as a person.

"I will miss him as a person. What impresses me is the kind of person he is, the respect he has shown me, the kind of care and commitment he has for the team, and the kind of energy he spent and never backed down. For me, it will be the person I will miss the most," said Rohit.

2024-06-30T11:28:46Z dg43tfdfdgfd