Rahul Dravid: A Shot At Redemption

In 2007, Indian cricket saw one of its lowest points when the team, under the captaincy of Rahul Dravid, crashed out in the group stage of the ICC's Men's ODI World Cup in West Indies. Images of a dejected Indian team and Dravid in the dressing room that day, watching the Sri Lankans celebrate after winning the match encapsulated the disappointment of the nation, where effigies and posters were burnt as fans vented out their anger. 

Seventeen years later, the former cricket captain now has a chance to make amends by winning the T20 World Cup in the same Caribbean soil in a poetic fashion on what possibly his last assignment as the current Indian coach. As India is set to face England in the semi-final on Thursday, the Indian team is just two wins away from what would be a great redemption arc for Dravid.

The batting legend's tenure as the head coach officially ended after the 2023 ODI World Cup but was given an extension till the 2024 T20 World Cup. The Board of Control for Cricket in India had welcomed new applicants interested in the position of head coach. The BCCI also invited Dravid to reapply for the position. But he was reportedly not willing to take up the responsibility as head coach once his tenure ends in June.

It all started in 2014, when Dravid decided to widen his portfolio by training Rajasthan Royals for the Indian Premier League. Later, he was made the coach of India's A and U-19 Indian cricket team. Under his mentorship, the team performed and excelled in multiple matches. The 2018 U-19 World Cup victory under his guidance was a testimony for the same.

In November 2021, Dravid was named as the head coach of the senior Indian cricket team, succeeding Ravi Shastri. The move was met with a great response from the fans, who had wanted him in the role for a long time.

In the same month, Dravid and his troops started their journey by winning against New Zealand in a three match T20 series, sweeping it 3-0. They also won the test series by 1-0.

However, the team suffered a loss against South Africa by losing both the ODI and test series. But the Rohit Sharma-led team saw a comeback against the West Indies where they whitewashed the team by clinching victory in both the T20 and ODI series by 3-0.

The men in blue kept moving ahead confidently by winning matches against Sri Lanka, South Africa, Ireland and England. Later, Dravid's men entered into a limited over series against the West Indies. The Shikhar Dhawan-led team won the ODI series 3-0, while the Hardik Pandya-led T20 squad had a convincing win of 4-1.

The Indian squad experienced a great setback in 2022 when they were knocked out in the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia. They defeated arch-rival Pakistan in the group stage but lost in the semi-finals against England. Before the tournament, they had also failed to lift the Asia Cup as they exited the game in the super four stages.

In early 2023, Dravid's troop also played the Border Gavaskar test series against Australia and won it by 2-1. This victory of the team helped the blue army enter the finals of the 2023 World Test Championship. However, even after a relentless effort, India failed to lift it for the second consecutive time.

Last year, the team conquered their eighth Asia Cup title, in a boost to their preparations for the 2023 ODI World Cup. During the marquee event in India, they were victorious in all league stages and entered the finals but lost against the Aussies. The wounds of the defeat are still fresh among the people of the country.

Although India did not win any ICC trophy so far under the mentorship of Dravid, his commitment and contribution as the head coach assisted the team to achieve many milestones. The team topped the ICC rankings as the best team in the limited overs format and the second-best team in the test format after Australia.

Dravid's career as a head coach was nothing less than a roller coaster. His commitment towards the games shows his power to be ahead of everyone. A win in the ongoing T20 World Cup will be an added feather to his cap and an incredible way to bid adieu to a cricketing legend.