The Rahul Dravid-Rohit Sharma partnership turned out to be one of the most successful captain-coach pairings in the national team’s history.
New Delhi: Former India head coach Rahul Dravid has opened up about his successful partnership with skipper Rohit Sharma, calling it one of the most fulfilling phases of his coaching career. Speaking on R. Ashwin’s YouTube channel, Dravid reflected on Rohit’s leadership qualities and the bond they shared during their tenure with Team India.
The Dravid-Rohit pairing produced some of Indian cricket’s finest moments between 2022 and 2024. Together, they guided India to the Asia Cup 2023 title, a runners-up finish at the 2023 ODI World Cup, and the long-awaited T20 World Cup victory in 2024.
Dravid said Rohit’s biggest strength was his clarity and care for the team.
“The thing with Rohit that I always felt was that he deeply cared about the team. From the first day, he was very clear about how he wanted to run things and what was important to him,” Dravid said.
The former coach stressed that in his philosophy, the team should always belong to the captain, with the coach playing a supporting role.
“A captain has to lead in terms of the direction he wants to go in, and you have to support him. With Rohit, he was very clear about what he wanted from the team, the atmosphere, and the environment,” he added.
Dravid credited Rohit’s vast experience for shaping India’s culture during their time together, while also emphasizing his own role in creating a comfortable space for the captain.
“For me, it was about challenging him at times but also ensuring he was comfortable. Once Rohit was in that space, he could perform and get everyone else to perform too,” he said.
Beyond cricket, Dravid highlighted the ease of their off-field relationship, which often extended to casual conversations and shared meals.
“I enjoyed getting to know him as a person. We could spend evenings together chatting about things beyond cricket. It felt natural, not forced,” Dravid recalled.
Reflecting on Rohit’s growth since his early days, Dravid added:
“Having seen him as an U-19 kid and giving him his first opportunity, to then watch him evolve as a person and leader was really special.”
Together, Dravid and Rohit will be remembered as one of India’s most successful captain-coach duos, leaving behind a legacy of clarity, camaraderie, and historic triumphs.
