Rohit Sharma on Dravid: Tried persuading him to stay as Team India head coach

Rohit Sharma tried to convince Rahul Dravid to stay as Head Coach

Rohit Sharma, the Team India skipper, has revealed that he made a strong pitch to Rahul Dravid, urging him to stay on as head coach, but Dravid has made the call to move on.

On Monday, Rahul Dravid announced his decision to step down from his role as head coach after steering the team for nearly three years, with his contract set to expire at the end of the month. He has opted not to seek a renewal.

The successor to Dravid is speculated to be former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir, although it's uncertain whether he has thrown his hat in the ring for the job.

"I tried to persuade him to stay, but there are obviously various factors he needs to consider. Nevertheless, I cherished the time spent with him," Rohit expressed emotionally when questioned about a possible farewell for Dravid.

Rohit shares a deep history with Dravid, as he made his international debut under Dravid's leadership back in June 2007. "He was my first international captain when I entered the scene in Ireland. I also witnessed his captaincy during my early Test matches. He's been a significant role model for us," Rohit reminisced ahead of India's World Cup opener against Ireland.

Reflecting on Dravid's tenure, Rohit acknowledged, "Although we haven't clinched a trophy during the Rohit-Dravid era, his impact as head coach has been immense. He's shown remarkable determination throughout his career, and I aimed to absorb that quality from him when he joined us as coach."

Under Dravid's guidance, India may have missed out on major silverware, but Rohit emphasized the team's success in crucial tournaments and series. "Every step of our journey has been enjoyable. Dravid's alignment with our team's vision was pivotal. He set the tone for our collective efforts, instilling a never-say-die attitude," Rohit reflected.

Dravid took over the coaching reins from Ravi Shastri after the 2021 T20 World Cup, leaving an indelible mark on Indian cricket.