India entered the ODI World Cup final with a perfect record, winning 10 consecutive matches. However, in the final against Australia, things didn’t go as planned, and Australia emerged victorious, leaving Indian fans disappointed. Six months later, Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma had another opportunity for glory in the T20 World Cup final against a strong South African team. On this occasion, luck favored India.
At the Ceat Cricket Rating Awards, where Dravid received the Lifetime Achievement Award, he spoke about the fine margins that often separate victory from defeat in high-stakes matches.
“I’ve had time to reflect on it. I’ve had time to reflect on a lot of things we’ve done. You do realise, sometimes, you have to do a lot of these things, you have to do the process, you have to do everything right. Sometimes at the end of the day, you need a little bit of luck,” Dravid said.
Dravid recounted the intense moments in the T20 World Cup final, where India defended 30 runs from the last 30 balls. He credited the team’s execution and Rohit’s calmness under pressure but also highlighted a pivotal moment when
Suryakumar Yadav‘s stunning catch at the boundary dismissed David Miller, changing the course of the game in India’s favor.
“Sometimes, it’s the skill, but you also need someone who can keep their foot within one inch of a line,” Dravid said, referring to Yadav’s game-changing catch.
In contrast, Dravid remembered how Australia’s Travis Head rode his luck to score a match-winning century in the ODI World Cup final, despite India’s bowlers frequently beating his bat. “I remember whatever it was, we beat Travis Head’s bat 15 times — he didn’t touch a single ball. You know, things can go your way sometimes,” Dravid noted, underscoring the unpredictable nature of sports.
As he steps down from his coaching role, Dravid expressed optimism about the future of Indian cricket. He believes that under the leadership of players like Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, the team will continue to achieve great success on the global stage.
