Can coach Rahul Dravid achieve his unfulfilled dream of winning the World Cup? Here’s what veteran India spinner has to say | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: Batting legend Rahul Dravid‘s cricketing journey has come a full circle. In the ICC World Cup 2007, Dravid was captain of the Indian team when they were knocked out from the tournament in the group stage. Now, in a twist of fate, Dravid finds himself in a similar situation albeit this time as the head coach of the Indian team in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023.
So, Dravid’s role in the ongoing World Cup is not only to lead the team to glory but also about his personal quest to fulfil a dream that slipped through his fingers 16 years ago. It’s an opportunity to achieve something he missed as a player and a captain in 2007.

Can the 2007 World Cup skipper Dravid achieve his unfulfilled dream as coach this time round?
“100 percent. As a cricketer and Indian, I am a huge fan of Rahul Dravid. As far as I know, Rahul bhai doesn’t live in the past. He brings new thought processes every day. I am confident that under Rahul bhai’s coaching India will win the Cup,” veteran India spinner Amit Mishra told TimesofIndia.com in an interview.

In 2007, the Dravid-led India had the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, and entered the tournament as one of the favourites. But things didn’t go the way the team and captain Dravid had planned.
Despite being in a relatively easier group, comprising Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Bermuda, India lost their opening encounter against Bangladesh by five wickets. India won against minnows Bermuda but were shown the exit door by Sri Lanka, who pummelled them by 69 runs in the next match.
The dejected faces of the Dravid-led Team India, after they suffered an early exit from the World Cup in 2007, are still fresh in Indian cricket fan’s minds. India had finished as runners-up in the previous editions in 2003 after losing the title clash against Australia.

16 years later, as the 2023 World Cup unfolds, the spotlight again turns to Dravid, the former captain and the current coach of the host nation. And Rohit Sharma-led India kicked off their 2023 campaign on high, beating five-time champions Australia by six wickets in their tournament opener.
Mishra, who played 22 Tests, 36 ODIs, and 10 T20Is for India, feels players have a good relation with Dravid and the legend creates a positive environment within the team.
“The best part is that he has played as a player with most of these players in the IPL and he knows them well. He knows everyone inside out and their mentality. He knows how to deal with a player and how to make him understand. This is a big and very good ability about him. He gives his players all the freedom and the players are happy to talk to him anytime,” Mishra said.
“The management has maintained a good combination with players and a coach like Dravid. Rahul bhai maintains a positive environment. He is a very positive person. He knows how to bring the best out of a player,” the spinner added.