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Rahul Dravid, the former head coach of the Indian national cricket team, has opened up about the most challenging moment of his coaching career, and it may come as a surprise to many. In a recent interview, Dravid revealed that the 2021 Test series loss against South Africa was the lowest point of his tenure, despite the team’s success in other major tournaments.
A Missed Opportunity in South Africa
Under Dravid’s leadership, the Indian team achieved remarkable success, including winning the 2024 T20 World Cup and maintaining their position as the top-ranked team across all formats. However, the one series that eluded them was the away Test series against South Africa in 2021.
“If you ask me what the lowest point is, I would say the South Africa Test series early on in my career,” Dravid said, as quoted by News18. “We won the first Test match in South Africa in Centurion, and then we were playing in the second and third Test match. We have never won a series in South Africa, as you know. It was a really big opportunity for us to win that series.”
Despite missing some key players due to injury, including captain Rohit Sharma, India came agonizingly close to making history by winning their first-ever Test series in South Africa. However, they ultimately fell short, losing the three-match series 1-2.
Learning from Setbacks
Dravid acknowledged that the series loss was a tough pill to swallow, but he emphasized the importance of learning from such experiences. “But there were a lot of learnings from that. You know a lot of those experiences, and you know we learnt a lot from them,” he said.
The former India captain stressed the need for coaches to maintain balance and perspective, even in the face of setbacks. “So I think as coaches, what is very important is that you will go through ups and downs. What is really important is to maintain that balance and realise that you can’t always win games. Other teams have also come to play; you’re playing against some world-class sides, and you have no right to always win,” he added.
A Successful Tenure
Despite the disappointment of the South Africa series, Dravid’s tenure as India head coach was marked by significant achievements. Under his guidance, the team reached the semifinals of the 2022 T20 World Cup and the finals of the 2023 ODI World Cup and World Test Championship.
The highlight of Dravid’s tenure was undoubtedly the team’s triumph at the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Americas, ending India’s eight-year wait for an ICC trophy. This success, coupled with the team’s consistent performances across formats, cemented Dravid’s legacy as one of India’s most successful coaches.
Looking Ahead
As Dravid steps down from his role as India head coach, he leaves behind a strong foundation for his successor Gautam Gambhir. The team’s success under his leadership has raised expectations, and Gambhir will be tasked with building upon the progress made.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that Dravid may be set to take on a new challenge, with rumors of him replacing Kumar Sangakkara as the head coach of the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL). If true, this move would reunite Dravid with the franchise he mentored during the latter stages of his playing career.
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