"It’s totally against my values"- Rahul Dravid rejects #DoitforDravid campaign ahead of 2024 T20 World Cup final
Team India head coach Rahul Dravid rejected the ongoing #DoitforDravid campaign by stating how it goes against his values ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa. The summit clash will be played in Barbados on June 29.
The said campaign has been at the forefront of Social Media with fans calling for the side to win the T20 World Cup title as the ideal farewell to the parting Dravid. The former batter will relinquish his role as the head coach after the ongoing tournament with the BCCI still seeking his replacement.
In a video shared on Star Sports on the eve of the final, Dravid said:
"It’s totally against who I am as a person and it’s totally against my values. You know, I don't really believe in this 'Do it for somebody'. I love that quote about somebody asking somebody else, 'Why do you want to climb Mount Everest?' and he says 'I want to climb Mount Everest because it's there. Why do we want to win this World Cup? because it's there."
Dravid took over as India's coach in November 2021, replacing Ravi Shastri. During his tenure, he helped the side reach the World Test Championship and ODI World Cup final last year before doing the same in the ongoing T20 World Cup.
"If you can get that campaign removed, I will appreciate it" - Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid further requested the #DoitforDravid campaigns to be removed by stating that the World Cup trophy should not be attributed to a particular individual.
In his final tournament as Indian coach, the team has enjoyed incredible success thus far, winning all seven games to reach the final.
"It's not for anyone, it's not for anybody, it's just there to win [World Cup]. I just want to play good cricket and yeah, doing it for someone is totally against who I am as a person and what I believe in so I don't want to talk about it and discuss it. If you can get that campaign removed, I will appreciate it," said Dravid.
As a player, Rahul Dravid was part of the Indian side that were joint winners of the 2002 Champions Trophy and runners-up in the 2003 ODI World Cup.
Despite not tasting ultimate success in a World Cup with the senior side yet, he coached the Indian Under-19 team to the World Cup title in 2018.