Aoba Tanaka 
Staying true to his no-nonsense taskmaster image, outgoing India head coach Rahul Dravid had one last assignment for star batter Virat Kohli even on his final day at work, mere hours after India clinched the T20 World Cup. In a video shared by the ICC on Instagram, Dravid was seen telling Kohli, “All three white ticked off, one red to go. Tick it.” By “three white,” Dravid referred to the limited-overs global trophies – the T20 World Cup, the ODI World Cup, and the Champions Trophy – all of which Kohli has won as a player. The “red” signifies the elusive World Test Championship Final.
India has come close but fallen short in the WTC Final twice, losing to New Zealand in 2021 and Australia in 2023. As Kohli, who announced his retirement from T20 Internationals after the World Cup triumph, listened, Dravid reiterated with a warm smile, “Go tick it.”
Dravid’s tenure as India’s head coach, which began in 2021, concluded with India’s spectacular seven-run victory over South Africa in the T20 World Cup final. This victory marked India’s second T20 world crown, the first being in the inaugural edition in 2007 under Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Additionally, India boasts victories in the 1983 and 2011 ODI World Cups and the 2013 Champions Trophy.
The ICC video capturing the post-match celebrations also featured Suryakumar Yadav, whose stunning catch to dismiss David Miller proved crucial. “No feelings right now, I don’t know what to say,” Yadav said, overwhelmed by the achievement. Pacer Arshdeep Singh showcased polaroid shots – one from the morning of the final and another with the winner’s medal and trophy. “This is what belief can do,” he remarked.
The Indian team now faces a delay in their return home due to Hurricane Beryl, a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 210 kmph, which has shut down Barbados. Initially scheduled to fly from New York via Dubai, the team is now expected to return on a charter flight. The contingent, including support staff, families, and officials, comprises about 70 members.
As India celebrates another cricketing milestone, the message from Dravid to Kohli highlights the ever-present ambition and drive to conquer the final frontier – the World Test Championship.
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