Rahul Dravid Says T20 World Cup 2024 Will Be His Last As India Head Coach

Rahul Dravid, the head coach of the Indian cricket team, has confirmed that the upcoming T20 World Cup will be his last tournament in charge. Dravid, who took over as coach in November 2021, was not expected to reapply for the position after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) invited applications last month. Speaking to reporters ahead of India's World Cup opener against Ireland, Dravid expressed his enjoyment of his coaching tenure and emphasized the importance of every game he has coached for India."I love doing the job. I've really enjoyed coaching India and I think it's a truly special job to do. I enjoyed working with this team and it's a great bunch of boys to work with but yeah but just considering, unfortunately just the kind of schedules and where I find myself in the stage in my life, I don't think I'll be able to reapply. So yeah, it'll be my last one but having said that it's no different for me to be very honest. From the first day I took the job, I always felt that every game was important and every game mattered and that will not change," Dravid said.India will be aiming to win their first ICC trophy at the T20 World Cup and give a perfect farewell to their coach. The opening combination for the tournament opener is still uncertain, with Rohit Sharma expected to open alongside Virat Kohli, but Yashasvi Jaiswal also being considered as an option. Dravid kept his cards close to his chest regarding the opening pair, stating that they have multiple options and will decide based on the conditions and desired combination.The drop-in pitches at the Nassau County ground have come under scrutiny due to variable bounce and a slow outfield. However, Dravid stated that his team is not complaining and will adapt to the prevailing conditions. He emphasized the importance of adjusting to the pitch and not labeling it as good or bad.As for the target score, Dravid acknowledged that the scoring rate may be different in this tournament compared to the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL). He highlighted the need to adapt to different venues and situations, stating, "So, it will be important to adapt."When asked about India's performance in recent ICC events, where they fell short of winning the title, Dravid defended the players' consistency and quality of cricket. He mentioned their semi-final appearance in the 2022 World Cup in Australia and their run to the final of the World Test Championship. Dravid expressed confidence in the team's ability to perform consistently and hoped that they would execute better in crucial knockout games."The important thing is when you start these tournaments is not to think about that, is to actually think about getting into those positions. You have to find yourselves in those positions where you are pushing for glory and that's all you can do as a group and as a team," Dravid said.Despite missing the usual buzz associated with a world event, Dravid hoped that once India's games begin and Indian fans start attending, the excitement will build up. He acknowledged that cricket is not one of the major sports in the Middle East but anticipated a similar level of enthusiasm once the tournament gets underway.In conclusion, Rahul Dravid has confirmed that the T20 World Cup will be his last tournament as head coach of the Indian cricket team. He expressed his enjoyment of coaching India and emphasized the importance of every game. India will be aiming for their first ICC trophy at the tournament, with the opening combination yet to be finalized. Dravid highlighted the need for adaptation to different conditions and venues. He defended India's performance in recent ICC events and expressed confidence in their ability to perform consistently. Despite the lack of buzz surrounding the event, Dravid hoped that excitement would build once Indian fans start attending the games.