Former Indian cricketer Dodda Ganesh lauded India’s head coach, Rahul Dravid, following Team India’s victory in the Asia Cup 2023. Ganesh also pointed out the inconsistency in how Dravid is perceived, often blamed when the team underperforms and forgotten when they succeed.
Rahul Dravid has faced criticism for his coaching methods on multiple occasions. His coaching decisions during the recent IND vs WI series drew significant scrutiny. Dravid made several changes to the playing XI and batting order during the series, which didn’t sit well with many.
India lost an ODI match to West Indies but ultimately won the series 2-1. In two ODI games, senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were rested while Hardik Pandya led the team. Additionally, India lost three out of five T20I matches in the series.
Also Read: Imam-ul-Haq Faces Scrutiny Over Dressing Room Leaks in Pakistan Cricket Team – ReportsDodda Ganesh took to social media, specifically Twitter, to offer praise to Rahul Dravid for India’s success. He also highlighted the trend of Dravid facing criticism when the team falters and subsequently being forgotten when the team wins.
Ganesh wrote, “India on the verge of a thumping win today in the #AsiaCup finals. And, Rahul Dravid is still not trending on X. Well, only the blame goes to Rahul when the team fails, but when the team wins, he’ll be forgotten. Well, the kind of world we live in.”
Here is what Dodda Ganesh tweeted on X:
India on the verge of a thumping win today in the #AsiaCup finals. And, Rahul Dravid is still not trending on X. Well, only the blame goes to Rahul when the team fails, but when the team wins, he’ll be forgotten. Well, the kind of world we live in. I so badly want India to win…
— Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) September 17, 2023
Rahul Dravid assumed the position of head coach in 2021 after Ravi Shastri’s departure. However, he has faced criticism for India’s inability to secure major tournament victories. Last year, India was defeated in the T20 World Cup semi-final by England and failed to reach the final in the Asia Cup. This year, the Indian team lost to Australia in the ICC World Test Championship final.
However, in the Asia Cup 2023 final, Rohit Sharma and his team dismantled Sri Lanka, winning by 10 wickets. India restricted Sri Lanka to just 50 runs and then chased down the target with ease. Mohammed Siraj was the star, claiming 6 wickets and earning the Player of the Match award.
This victory marks a significant achievement for Dravid, as it’s the first multi-nation tournament that India has won under his leadership. Now, Rahul Dravid will be aiming to guide Team India to victory in the ICC World Cup 2023 later this year.
