The echoes of India’s catastrophic exit from the 2007 World Cup still resonate in the memories of cricket enthusiasts. The debacle in the Caribbean led to a nationwide uproar, manifesting in the most unwarranted acts—aggressions were taken out on the restaurants of cricket icons Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, paceman Zaheer Khan’s abode was pelted with stones, and a wall of MS Dhoni’s residence was demolished. Amidst the turmoil, and while the squad awaited their return flight, the players were engulfed in solitude. Virender Sehwag, for instance, remained cloistered in his room, tirelessly binging the TV drama ‘Prison Break’, forbidding even the housekeeping staff entry.
In these dire times, it was the then captain, Rahul Dravid, who emerged as a beacon of support, especially for the crestfallen Dhoni and Irfan Pathan. Offering solace, Dravid invited the young players to join him for a movie outing, during which he imparted words of resilient optimism and an assurance of a comeback. These words, according to Pathan, became an indelible marker in his mind. Dravid’s calm demeanor in the face of adversity was also evident when, after returning to India, he embarked on a brief family vacation to Kovalam beach in Kerala, he was captured in a now-famous picture near the water, seemingly nonchalant amidst the chaos.
Vijeta Dravid, his wife, glows with anecdotes of his profound ability to balance life and cricket, to switch from a fierce competitor to an affectionate family man, a skill he has striven to instill in the current Indian team as their coach. During his tenure as coach, Dravid has publicly expressed pride in the dressing room culture under his guidance, celebrating the team’s camaraderie through both triumphs and challenges.
The tactical approach of Dravid witnessed him craft the Indian team with prudent decisions and support the captaining preferences of Rohit Sharma, who values a “nice and balanced” approach. Dravid’s philosophy embraces a more humanized and democratic leadership style, a stark contrast from the authoritarian regimes of the past. This sentiment is echoed by mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton, who highlights the evolutionary drift in Indian cricket’s leadership to a non-authoritarian mode, emphasizing that Dravid genuinely assimilates with the players rather than lording over them.
Dravid’s teaching extends beyond just cricket techniques; he stresses the importance of life skills, encouraging young players to develop as individuals. For instance, Shubman Gill, a beneficiary of Dravid’s nurturing during his U-19 days, had specific aspects of his game refined through Dravid’s mentorship, as revealed in a candid interview facilitated by the BCCI.
Dravid’s perspective on growth and success is often metaphorically illustrated by the story of the Chinese bamboo, which he uses to describe his own journey and the patience required for substantial achievements. His coaching career has followed a similar trajectory, eschewing an immediate leap to the national team coach role. Instead, he meticulously cultivated his coaching acumen through stints with U-19 teams, the National Cricket Academy, and India A squads before ascending to the helm of India’s cricketing endeavor.
Even as the nation idolizes Dravid for his cricketing acumen, he remains a figure who cherishes a simple life dedicated to the sport and his loved ones. Whether or not he has acquired the skill to strum the guitar as he once aspired, in the domain of cricket, he is confidently orchestrating the Indian team’s ascent, much like the careful nurturing required for the Chinese bamboo to reach its formidable heights.