"I saw him hug the cup and cry" - Ravichandran Ashwin on Rahul Dravid's reaction to India's 2024 T20 World Cup triumph
Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin recently spoke about how head coach Rahul Dravid displayed overwhelming emotions following the team's 2024 T20 World Cup victory. Ashwin mentioned that he too felt emotional seeing Dravid's animated celebrations.
Ashwin pointed out how after being handed the 2024 T20 World Cup trophy by Virat Kohli, Dravid was moved to tears and hugged the silverware. Speaking on his YouTube channel 'Ashwin,' the crafty spinner said:
"My moment was When Virat Kohli called Rahul Dravid and gave the cup... I saw him hug the cup and cry. Rahul Dravid screamed and cried. I saw him enjoy. I felt that a lot."
It is worth mentioning that the 2024 T20 World Cup was Dravid's final assignment as Team India's head coach. His stint ended on a high note, with the Men in Blue finally ending their 11-year-long ICC trophy drought.
The Rohit Sharma-led side trumped South Africa by seven runs in the final at Barbados. India became the first-ever men's team to win the T20 World Cup unbeaten.
"I know what he has been doing with this team for the past 2-3 years" - Ravichandran Ashwin on Rahul Dravid
Speaking ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup, which was Dravid's last match as Team India's head coach, Ashwin stated that the former deserved much credit for the side's success at the ICC event.
He highlighted that he has seen the amount of hard work Dravid has put in during his tenure. Lauding the former India cricketer for his contribution, here's what Ashwin had said on his YouTube channel in June:
"I want to talk about a person who is sacred. 2007, 50-over World Cup. India gets knocked out. Rahul Dravid, the captain at that point of time. He he doesn't captain the one-day side after that. He has been with the Indian team. If something doesn't go well, if the Indian team goes out, if they lose a match, immediately, they ask what Rahul Dravid is doing.
"I know what he has been doing with this team for the past 2-3 years. I know how balanced he has been. I know how hard he has worked to change this approach. I know what he has given each of his players. Even when he is just sitting at home, he has been planning how to do this and that."
Following Dravid's departure, former opening batter Gautam Gambhir was named as India's new head coach.