Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan hailed outing India head coach Rahul Dravid for his magnificent effort for the team. He stated that the former India skipper delivered for India and left the team in great shape for Gautam Gambhir to take over the role.
Rahul Dravid’s tenure as the head coach ended after the India National Cricket Team team won the T20 World Cup 2024. The former India skipper made sure that he left the team on high, ensuring that India ended the title drought of 11 years, having won the Champions Trophy in 2013.
Rahul Dravid was roped in as the India head coach after the T20 World Cup 2022. He took the onus of the team when they were struggling and also there were some other external factors as well including Virat Kohli’s captaincy saga and the team was potentially dented that time.
Rahul Dravid along with Rohit Sharma brought everyone together and then changed the way how the team played their cricket. They brought in a fearless attitude made players understand their role and gave clarity and confidence to the individuals.
Although they had their heartbreaks they made sure they ended on high. Under Dravid, India lost the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2022, the ICC World Test Championship Final in 2023 and the final of the ICC World Cup 2023 at home.
Rahul Dravid then was given an extension as the head coach till the T20 World Cup 2024 and he made sure that he shone in the final dance. His sensational coaching saw India lifting the T20 World Cup 2024 and finally having their hands at the World Cup trophy.
Michael Vaughan while talking about Rahul Dravid’s career as coach claimed that when the former skipper of India was appointed as the head coach, he knew that he would be something special. He pointed out how the team was consistent under Dravid. Speaking on Cricbuzz, he explained:
“Again, a bit like Rohit, he’s one of the great people of the game. He’s as honest as they come and, hard worker. I knew as soon as he got the Indian job that the rest of the world was going to be in trouble. I really did. I mean, I’m just staggered that they haven’t got over the line in the World Test Championship and the World Cup in November. But what he’s brought is a huge amount. He was a consistent player.
“Day in, day out he delivered. And it’s no surprise that India have become very, very consistent under his watch as a coach because he’d demand that the processes were right. You hear about the processes all the time in sport, but it really is as simple as that. If you deliver your process day in, day out, the performance looks after itself. And I think throughout Rahul’s term in office, if you like, as the coach, India have been so consistent. They’ve very rarely had bad, bad weeks. They might have been beaten, but it’s because the opposition have played really good cricket.”
I don’t ever remember seeing an India side that has fallen over and just collapsed, giving up – Michael Vaughan on Rahul Dravid’s tenure as the head coach
Michael Vaughan while further talking about the Rahul Dravid’s tenure as the head coach said that under him India didn’t give up. He stressed that when Gautam Gambhir will take over as the coach he’d would be delighted rather than being under pressure to win trophies because he will have immensely talented team. He elaborated:
“I don’t ever remember seeing an India side that has fallen over and just collapsed, giving up.That’s, again, Rahul Dravid at his finest. He would never, ever give up. Never, ever would. He’s thrown the towel in as a player, as a batter, as a captain. Everything was purely dedicated to try and do the best for India, and he’s done exactly the same as an India coach. I’m predicting Gautam Gambhir will take over from Rahul Dravid. Some people will say, oh, there’s pressure on Gautam now because they’ve won a World Cup. I don’t know. I think I’d be absolutely delighted.
“If you’re into coaching, I would say if there was one team that you’d want to coach, it would be the Indian side with that much talent because there’s so many trophies to play for now in the next few years that Gautam will know that he’s getting a fine squad with all the talent, all the skill sets, the right amount of mix of experience and youth with plenty of young players that can be pushing those senior players to make sure that they’re kept on their toes as well. Rahul Dravid’s leaving Indian cricket in a great state, and that’s all you can ask. When you get a job, can you leave it in a better position when you walk away? He’s certainly done that,” he concluded.