Ever since their iconic victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2013, team India has grappled to recreate such a feat in major tournaments. England fell to India’s might in Birmingham in 2013, marking India’s last triumph in an International Cricket Council (ICC) title. Fast forward 10 years, and the nation is eagerly eyeing the upcoming ODI World Cup slated for the latter part of 2023. This time, the tournament is on home turf, which makes the stakes even higher.
The weight of the past and the anticipation of the future hang over the Indian cricket team and its coach, Rahul Dravid. Speculation is rife about whether Dravid will retain his contract if the team fails to bring the World Cup home. The responsibility rests heavy on his shoulders, as India has been longing for a major ICC title for over a decade.
Under Rohit Sharma’s leadership, India managed to reach the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) consecutively. The team, however, faced a crushing 209-run defeat by Australia in the final showdown. This loss adds another layer of pressure and expectancy to their performance in the upcoming World Cup.
Rahul Dravid took the reins from Ravi Shastri as head coach and has since led India to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in 2022 and the WTC final. However, these near-misses have left a bittersweet taste in the mouths of cricket lovers.
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Graeme Smith backs Rahul Dravid
Former South African cricketer Graeme Smith stepped forward to comment on Dravid’s journey as coach so far. He acknowledges the enormous expectations tied to any leadership role in Indian cricket. He recognizes India’s abundance of talent and the challenges that come with managing the squads and juggling different formats.
Smith’s comments to The Times of India encapsulate these sentiments, “The biggest challenge in India for a leader is balancing those squads, balancing your tour schedules, the different formats, and those are some of the biggest decisions that are coming ahead of Rahul and his selection team.”
Smith advocates for patience and a fair opportunity for Dravid, “He’s a quality man and a quality performer. He’s shown it right through as a coach. So, you’ve got to give him a fair opportunity now to kind of rebuild India.”
In conclusion, the upcoming ODI World Cup holds significant implications for Indian cricket. A victory would not only break a 10-year drought for an ICC title but would also solidify Rahul Dravid’s position as head coach. The nation waits with bated breath for the tournament and what it could mean for the future of Indian cricket.
