Rahul Dravid Thanks Rohit Sharma For Key Phone Call After ODI World Cup Loss

Suryakumar Yadav has shared insights into why Rahul Dravid expressed gratitude to Rohit Sharma during a phone call in November, following India's loss in the ODI World Cup final against Australia in Ahmedabad.

After India's heartbreaking defeat, Rahul Dravid was initially reluctant to continue as Team India's head coach. However, he decided to stay on until the T20 World Cup 2024 after persistent persuasion from Rohit Sharma and BCCI secretary Jay Shah.

In an interview with The Indian Express, Suryakumar Yadav revealed that Dravid thanked Rohit for convincing him to remain as the India coach. "In the end, he came and thanked Rohit and said, 'Thank you, Rohit, for that phone call in November,' because he didn't want to continue after (India's loss in) the 50-over World Cup but Rohit and Jay sir (BCCI secretary Jay Shah) convinced him to stay," Suryakumar told The Indian Express.

On his final day as head coach of the senior India men's cricket team, Rahul Dravid experienced a dream come true. South Africa needed just 30 runs off the last 30 balls with six wickets in hand, but India managed a miraculous turnaround to end their 13-year wait for a World Cup victory.

The 51-year-old Dravid, who never lifted the trophy during his playing career, celebrated exuberantly with the T20 World Cup trophy. His joy mirrored the emotions of billions of fans back home. "That 30-second clip, when he took the trophy in his hand and screamed... that moment when he expressed his happiness. I think I will save that clip for life," Suryakumar said.

Suryakumar Yadav's Praise for Dravid

Suryakumar Yadav lauded Rahul Dravid for being a protective figure for the players throughout his tenure. He appreciated how Dravid allowed batters to follow their instincts without imposing his own experience on them.

"Wall kabhi chhupta nahi hai (wall doesn't hide) (laughs) and Indranagar ke wall ko koi kabhi chhupa nahi sakta hai. He has created a wall which protects us from the expectations of people, pressure, and provides comfort to the players," Suryakumar said.

"Virat bhai also said the same thing the other day about 'the way you have played and seen cricket in your time and to come out and give freedom to players in this format ...' If a batsman felt that this is right, he will say 'ok, if you feel it's right, you make that decision'. He never imposed his experience on anyone. He understood others and thought about what others were thinking. These are small things that we forget after winning a tournament. His contribution was massive. His sense of humour is awesome," Suryakumar added.

Rahul Dravid's journey as head coach ended on a high note with India's remarkable victory at the T20 World Cup. His leadership style and ability to connect with players left an indelible mark on Indian cricket.