Indian skipper Rohit Sharma choked back tears during a press conference on the eve of their T20 World Cup 2024 opener against Ireland. The emotional moment came after head coach Rahul Dravid confirmed on Tuesday that the ongoing tournament will be his last in charge.
‘I tried convincing him to stay, but…’
Rohit, who made his ODI debut under Dravid’s captaincy in Ireland back in 2007, spoke fondly of his mentor.
“He was my first international captain when I made my debut in Ireland. Then I’ve seen him play while I was just coming into the team [for] Test matches when he was captain. And such a big role model for all of us,” Rohit said while addressing the reporters in New York.
“Growing up, we watched him play and we know what he has achieved, personally as a player and also what he’s done for the team over the years. Battling out the team from difficult situations and that is what he’s known for,” he added.
Despite failing to win a major ICC trophy under Dravid’s coaching, Rohit acknowledged the coach’s positive impact. “It’s been great working with him,” he said.
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When asked if the team has planned a farewell for Dravid, Rohit became emotional and trailed off, simply stating, “I tried convincing him to stay, but obviously there are a lot of things that he needs to look after as well.
“But yeah, I personally enjoyed my time with him. I’m sure the rest of the guys will say the same. It’s been great working with him. And I’m not going to say anything actually. I’m not going to say anything.”
India begins T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland
With the coaching drama settled, India looks to focus on the task at hand. Their T20 World Cup journey begins on Wednesday (June 5) at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium against Ireland. They come into the tournament with a recent win over Bangladesh in a warm-up match and will be looking to start strong against the Irish.
Also READ: IND vs IRE, T20 World Cup 2024 – Nassau County International Cricket Stadium Pitch Report, New York Weather Forecast, T20 Stats & Records | India vs Ireland
While India chases World Cup glory, speculation swirls about Dravid’s successor. Former Indian captain and ex-BCCI President Sourav Ganguly is reportedly endorsing Gautam Gambhir for the role. With the tournament underway, the question of who will lead India’s next chapter remains unanswered.
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