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Rahul Dravid, the former Indian head coach and legendary cricketer, has always been revered for his calm demeanor and exceptional cricketing acumen. Now, after leading India to a thrilling seven-run victory over South Africa in the ICC T20 World Cup final, Dravid is riding high on his latest achievement, fulfilling a lifelong dream of capturing a World Cup trophy as a coach. This triumph also marks the end of his successful stint as the head coach of the Indian team.
At 51, Rahul Dravid continues to win hearts, not only for his unparalleled cricketing skills but also for his ability to foster a positive and supportive environment in the dressing room. During his recent appearance at the CEAT Cricket Awards, Dravid was in a lighthearted mood, especially when asked about the possibility of a biopic on his life. When quizzed about which actor he would choose to portray him on the big screen, Dravid humorously replied, “If the money is good enough, I will play it myself.” This witty remark gave fans a glimpse of Dravid’s rarely seen playful side.
Reflecting on India’s journey from the heartbreaking loss in the 50-over World Cup to their undefeated run in the T20 World Cup, Dravid emphasized the importance of consistency in preparation and execution. “Honestly, I did not want to do anything different,” Dravid shared. “We ran a fantastic campaign in the one-day World Cup, and there was nothing more we could have done in terms of preparation, planning, or execution. The team and I agreed that we needed to maintain the same energy, vibe, and atmosphere that we had. Then, we just hoped for a little bit of luck on the day.”
Rahul Dravid also expressed his gratitude for the experience of traveling across India during the World Cup, noting how it allowed him to witness firsthand the passion of the fans. “I’ve never been part of a home World Cup as a player, but as a coach, it was incredible to experience the joy and passion of our fans from city to city. It was a phenomenal campaign, and while we came up short in the final, that’s the nature of sport. Australia played better cricket on the day, and they deserved to win,” Dravid acknowledged.
The final, held in November, saw India post a modest total of 240 runs, despite solid contributions from Rohit Sharma (47), KL Rahul (66), and Virat Kohli (54). However, Australia, led by a remarkable unbeaten 137 from Travis Head and supported by Marnus Labuschagne (58*), chased down the target with six wickets in hand, securing their sixth 50-over World Cup title.
The CEAT Cricket Awards also recognized several other cricketing talents. Phil Salt was named Men’s T20I Batter of the Year, while Tim Southee took home the Men’s T20I Bowler of the Year award. Shreyas Iyer was honored for his outstanding leadership, leading Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to an IPL victory, and Sai Kishore was celebrated as the Domestic Cricketer of the Year.
In the ODI category, Virat Kohli was awarded Men’s ODI Batter of the Year, with Mohammad Shami earning the Men’s ODI Bowler of the Year title. Harmanpreet Kaur received the Award for Most Matches as a Captain in Women’s T20I History, while Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ravichandran Ashwin were recognized as Men’s Test Batter of the Year and Men’s Test Bowler of the Year, respectively. Deepti Sharma was named Women’s Indian Bowler of the Year, and Smriti Mandhana was honored as Women’s Indian Batter of the Year. Shafali Verma received the Award for the Fastest Double Century in Women’s Test.
Jay Shah was acknowledged for his contributions to sports administration, while Rahul Dravid was rightfully honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating his glorious contributions to the world of cricket.
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