Following Rahul Dravid's announcement that the ongoing T20 World Cup will mark his final stint with the Indian national team, Rohit Sharma, the team's captain, revealed his efforts to convince Dravid to reconsider.
"I tried convincing him to stay, but obviously there are a lot of things that he needs to look after as well. But yeah, I personally enjoyed my time with him," Rohit stated during a press conference in New York.
Reflecting on their partnership, Rohit highlighted the valuable leadership lessons he gleaned from Dravid, whom he regards as a role model and his first international captain, coincidentally in a match against Ireland.
"He was my first international captain when I made my debut in Ireland. Then I saw him play while I was just coming into the team (for) Test matches when he was captain. And such a big role model for all of us," Rohit remarked.
Dravid assumed the head coach role in November 2021, coinciding with Rohit's appointment as white-ball captain. Together, they steered India to notable successes, including a World Test Championship appearance, an ODI World Cup final, and a T20 World Cup semi-final.
"He’s shown a lot of great determination throughout his career and that is something that when he came here as a coach, I wanted to learn from him. It’s been very fruitful," Rohit acknowledged.
When questioned about farewell arrangements for Dravid, Rohit remained tight-lipped, deferring to the team's collective appreciation for their departing coach.
Dravid's initial contract with the national team expired after the 2023 ODI World Cup but was extended until June 2024 following India's commendable campaign, despite a loss to Australia in the final.
Although Dravid can reapply for the head coach position, he has indicated his inclination not to do so, as confirmed by BCCI Secretary Jay Shah in April.