Dravid confirmed it when requested if this World Cup was going to carry further significance for him. “Each event is necessary,” Dravid mentioned. “Each sport that I’ve coached for India has been crucial for me. For me, that is no totally different simply because it’ll be the final one which I am in command of. I really like doing the job. I’ve actually loved teaching India, and I feel it is a actually particular job to do. I’ve loved working with this workforce, and it is a fantastic bunch of boys to work with.
“Sadly, simply the sort of schedules [that are in place in international cricket] and the place I discover myself on this stage in my life, I do not suppose I am going to be capable of re-apply. Having mentioned that, it is no totally different for me to be very trustworthy. I do not see this something notably totally different or important. From the primary day I took the job, I all the time felt that each sport was necessary and each sport mattered, and that won’t change.”
As a participant, Dravid performed a World Cup ultimate in 2003, however regardless that he loved a stellar profession and was a part of the No. 1 Take a look at aspect, he by no means acquired to be referred to as a world champion. As a coach, he got here near it on three events, in all three codecs. This will probably be his final probability for now to be a part of a world champion aspect. Dravid, although, may step again and have a look at the bigger image.
“To be very trustworthy, I feel we have truly performed very well in these World Cup tournaments,” Dravid mentioned. “By way of our consistency, we have been very constant. Making the semi-final within the first, within the T20 one in Australia [in 2022]. The World Take a look at Championship is barely totally different when it comes to it is not one event, but it surely’s a complete cycle, however enjoying extraordinarily nicely within the cycle to get to the ultimate there once more [in 2023]. The 50-over World Cup the place we had a fantastic run and went into the ultimate [in 2023]. By way of our consistency, when it comes to the standard of cricket that now we have performed in these large tournaments, I feel we have been proper up there with among the greatest groups.
“We will not say that we have not performed good cricket in these tournaments. Sure, we in all probability have not been in a position to get throughout the road in that one knockout sport. The [2023 ODI] ultimate in Ahmedabad or the [WTC final] sport at The Oval after which once more at Adelaide within the T20 semi-final. So we simply in all probability have not been in a position to execute in that final part.
“Hopefully we play good cricket to get ourselves into these positions once more. Then perhaps play good cricket on the day to get throughout the road. However the necessary factor once you begin these tournaments will not be to consider that. It’s to truly take into consideration entering into these positions once more. I feel that is as laborious as truly successful these video games at instances. You need to discover yourselves in these positions the place you might be pushing for glory, and that is all you are able to do as a gaggle and as a workforce. Our entire aim will probably be to try to get ourselves as soon as once more right into a place the place we give ourselves an opportunity to have the ability to, um, win a event.”
That sadly will not be sufficient if you’re the Indian cricket workforce. It comes with the territory of being essentially the most adopted cricket workforce on this planet. Dravid mentioned they would wish to focus extra on their decision-making than expectations to get previous the knockouts hurdle.
“To have the ability to learn and perceive situations that will probably be totally different in numerous locations,” Dravid mentioned. “It is our capability to make use of our expertise. It is our capability to execute within the center. It is our capability to make the fitting selections whether or not with the bat or with the ball at these important moments, which would be the defining issue. We’d reasonably give attention to that reasonably than sort of fear concerning the expectations. After all, there are expectations and it is a fantastic factor that persons are score our workforce extremely as a result of that implies that we have been enjoying good cricket and we have squad collectively.”
Sidharth Monga is a senior author at ESPNcricinfo
