After the heartbreaking defeat in the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup final against Australia, Rahul Dravid, the then-head coach of the Indian cricket team, was contemplating stepping down from his role. However, a phone call from Rohit Sharma, the captain of the team, changed his mind. Rohit urged Dravid to continue as the coach, persuading him to have "one more crack at it".
Rohit Sharma himself confirmed this, stating that Dravid "wanted to step down after the 2023 World Cup". He further explained that he and others on the team felt they had come so far and that there was another World Cup in six months, referring to the T20 World Cup, so they asked Dravid to give it one more shot. Rohit expressed his gratitude that Dravid agreed, stating he was sure that even now Dravid felt he made the right decision.
Dravid's initial reluctance stemmed from the disappointment of not being able to cross the final hurdle in the 50-over World Cup. Despite a fantastic campaign where India won 10 consecutive games, the loss in the final was a bitter pill to swallow. However, Rohit's call instilled a renewed sense of purpose in Dravid, convincing him to continue until the end of his contract.
In a dressing room video posted by BCCI, Rahul Dravid said, “Ro, thank you very much for making that call to me in November and asking [me] to continue." He added, "I think it's been such a privilege and a pleasure to work with each and every one of you, but Ro, also thanks for the time." Dravid acknowledged the numerous chats, discussions, agreements, and disagreements they had, expressing his gratitude for the experience.
The decision to extend Dravid's tenure proved to be a masterstroke. Under his guidance, India went on to win the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, defeating South Africa in the final. This victory ended India's ICC trophy drought and marked Dravid's first World Cup win as a coach. It also meant that Dravid concluded his tenure as coach on a high.
Suryakumar Yadav revealed that Dravid thanked Rohit after winning the T20 world cup, "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."
Reflecting on the T20 World Cup win, Rohit described it as an emotional moment, especially considering his journey in the format since the 2007 T20 World Cup victory. He acknowledged the heartbreaks and near misses the team had experienced, which made the victory even more special. Rohit also credited the relentless planning and hard work that went into the win.
Rahul Dravid's coaching career has been extensive. Before taking over as the head coach of the senior team in November 2021, he coached India A and India U19 teams, leading the latter to victory in the 2018 ICC U19 Cricket World Cup. He also served as Head of Cricket at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), where he revamped player fitness programs. After his stint with the Indian team, Dravid returned to Rajasthan Royals as Head Coach.
Rohit Sharma, on the other hand, has solidified his position as a key figure in Indian cricket. Besides leading India to the 2024 T20 World Cup title, he also captained the team in the 2023 ODI World Cup, where they reached the final. While there are reports of the BCCI considering a change in ODI captaincy, Rohit's contributions to Indian cricket remain invaluable. After the 2024 T20 World Cup victory, Sharma declared his retirement from T20Is, while confirming that he would continue to represent India in ODIs and Test match formats.
The story of Rohit Sharma's phone call to Rahul Dravid encapsulates the importance of leadership, communication, and mutual respect in a team environment. It highlights how a timely intervention can alter the course of events and ultimately lead to success.
