Tried to convince Rahul Dravid to stay: Rohit Sharma

Ray Sportz News Desk: India skipper Rohit Sharma on Tuesday has made it clear that he had tried his best to get Rahul Dravid to stay as Team India Head Coach. Beside that he also hailed him as “a big role model.”

While meeting the press ahead of the T20 World Cup game against Ireland, Dravid made it cleared that the ongoing T20 World Cup would be his last tournament as Team India Head Coach. Dravid’s contract with the BCCI is set to end at the end of June and he has made it clear that he doesn’t want to continue at this post. He was incharge of the Team India Head Coach for almost three long years.

“I’ve enjoyed every bit of it, working with him,” Rohit, who has played under and with Dravid for India, told reporters on the eve of the Ireland game.

“I tried convincing him to stay, but obviously there are a lot of things that he needs to look after as well. I’ve personally enjoyed my time with him. I’m sure the rest of the guys will say the same. It’s been great working with him,” he added.

India has failed to win a global trophy under Dravid but Rohit was nevertheless full of praise for the 51-year-old former national skipper.

He further said that Dravid is a big role model for all of us. We grew up watching him play and we know what he’s achieved personally as a player and what he’s done for the team over the years. He’s shown a lot of great determination throughout his career, and that’s something that when he came here as a coach, I wanted to learn from him.

Dravid took over the team from Ravi Shastri after the 2021 T20 World Cup. This year’s edition in the United States and West Indies is his last chance to end India’s search for major international silverware that stretches back to 2013.

Dravid oversaw runs to the finals of both the World Test Championship and their home 50-over World Cup last year, but they came up short against Australia each time.