Rahul Dravid's Emotional Farewell as India Wins T20 World Cup

Rahul Dravid's tenure as India's head coach culminated in a triumphant note as he led the team to a thrilling seven-run victory over South Africa in the T20 World Cup final on June 29. The victory marked India's first ICC title in 11 years, a moment that deeply moved veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

Ashwin, speaking on his YouTube channel, described the emotional moment when Dravid embraced the ICC T20 World Cup trophy and shed tears. "I saw him hug the cup and cry. Rahul Dravid screamed and cried. I saw him enjoy it. I felt that a lot," Ashwin said.

Dravid, a batting legend, had never won an ICC title during his playing career. His tenure as coach was marked by both success and adversity, including the early elimination from the 2007 50-over World Cup.

Despite the challenges, Ashwin praised Dravid's unwavering dedication and hard work. "I know what he has been doing with this team for the past two-three years. I know how balanced he has been. I know how hard he has worked to change this approach," Ashwin said.

In the T20 World Cup final, India's batting duo of Virat Kohli and Axar Patel played crucial roles in setting a competitive target. Kohli's impressive knock of 76 runs, combined with Patel's quick-fire 47, helped India reach a total of 176 for 7.

The Indian bowlers faced a challenging task in defending the total, but they held their nerves in a tense finish. The pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Arshdeep Singh proved instrumental in securing the victory. Bumrah's miserly spell of 2/18, Pandya's crucial 3/20, and Arshdeep's equally critical 2/20 in the death overs suffocated the opposition's chase, ultimately leading to a narrow seven-run win for India.

The victory marked India's second T20 World Cup title, a fitting end to Dravid's tenure as coach. Gautam Gambhir will succeed Dravid as the new head coach, commencing his tenure with the upcoming white-ball tour of Sri Lanka.

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