Rahul Dravid Receives Standing Ovation as World Cup-Winning Coach

Rahul Dravid, the legendary Indian cricketer, has etched his name in the annals of cricket history not only as a prolific batsman but also as a successful coach. Having witnessed countless standing ovations during his playing days, Dravid experienced a new level of adulation after guiding India to the T20 World Cup title in 2023.

Dravid's journey as a coach has been marked by remarkable achievements. Under his stewardship, India ascended to the pinnacle of Test and ODI rankings, culminating in the T20 World Cup triumph. This victory served as a fitting farewell for Dravid, who had announced his decision to step down as coach after the tournament.

Despite his illustrious playing career, Dravid's World Cup aspirations as a player remained unfulfilled. In the 1999 ODI World Cup, he emerged as the tournament's leading run-scorer with 461 runs. India reached the final of the 2003 ODI World Cup but fell short against Australia. Dravid captained India in the 2007 ODI World Cup, but the team suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Bangladesh.

However, Dravid's legacy as one of the greatest batsmen of all time remained untarnished. As coach, he instilled a winning mentality in the Indian team, leading them to victory in the 2023 ODI World Cup on home soil. Despite the team's loss in the final, Dravid's contributions were widely recognized.

Captain Rohit Sharma played a pivotal role in convincing Dravid to continue as coach until the T20 World Cup. Under Dravid's guidance, India became the world's top-ranked team in both Tests and ODIs. The T20 World Cup title victory served as the icing on the cake, marking a fitting end to Dravid's tenure with Team India.

Dravid's humility and down-to-earth nature have earned him immense respect. A viral video captured the moment when he received a standing ovation at a cricket academy in Bengaluru. Sporting a simple t-shirt and shorts, Dravid was greeted with a bouquet of flowers and thunderous applause. As he moved through the academy, students lined up and raised their bats in his honor. Dravid, in his characteristic style, thanked the staff and students, asking them to lower their bats.

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