He served as the captain during India's premature departure from the 2007 World Cup. However, in 2023, under the guidance of Dravid as the head coach, their genuine capabilities have been unleashed.


Athletes who fall prey to online harassment, trolling, and trending paid hashtags might perceive the challenges of their predecessors as less severe. However, those from earlier times faced their own struggles with fanatical behavior. Some argue that the intensity was even greater, citing instances like the aftermath of India's early exit from the 2007 World Cup.

During that period, players endured the burning of effigies, stones hurled at their homes, and last-minute changes to travel plans to evade angry fans awaiting them in cities and towns. Irfan Pathan recalls being physically confronted and verbally abused by a fellow traveler in an airport queue. MS Dhoni, in an attempt to avoid potential incidents, refrained from returning to Ranchi for several days.

Rahul Dravid, as portrayed in the media, was often depicted as a submissive captain who allowed the notorious coach Greg Chappell to lead the team astray. Two assumptions prevailed: everything during his captaincy was negative, and he was deemed incapable of wrongdoing. Despite his effigy being burned, Dravid remained the virtuous figure, perceived as a good soldier who, in hindsight, should not have been in a leadership role.

On the day India faced elimination from the World Cup, Dravid endured a challenging press conference where he was questioned about concerns regarding the security situation back home. While contemporary issues like cyberbullying and memes can be addressed by disconnecting from social media, physical threats to personal safety and that of one's family are harder to ignore.

However, not all memes are meant to be hurtful; some, like the recent one featuring Dravid, serve as clever storytelling with the potential to go viral. This meme, drawing parallels between Shah Rukh Khan's character in "Chak De India" and Dravid, incorporates elements of emotions, redemption arcs, cricket, and Bollywood royalty. Both figures faced captaincy disgrace but redeemed themselves as coaches with world titles, encountering gradual success and acceptance.

Dravid, if shown the meme, might downplay the excessive focus on coaching and perhaps jest about his appearance compared to Shah Rukh. In a more assertive mood, he could highlight achievements like a Test series win in the West Indies, a first Test victory in South Africa, and a Test series win in England during his captaincy, emphasizing that he was far from disgraced.

However, it's crucial to remember that memes are not to be taken literally. In reality, Dravid transitioned from being a player to a professional coach, distancing himself from the notion that only cricketers can contribute to his teams. Moreover, he took charge of a highly successful team comprised of some of the world's best and most competitive professionals, challenging the narrative that he inherited a team of unknowns for redemption.

Dravid faced the challenging task of leading the Indian cricket team after they had secured a remarkable Test series win in Australia and held a 2-1 lead in a Test series in England, albeit with several key players missing. Transitioning the team under Dravid's leadership proved difficult due to frequent injuries.

Insiders reveal that Dravid and Rohit Sharma implemented effective processes for preparation and performance reviews, emphasizing execution over results. They introduced sophistication and method to preparedness, focusing on data, pitches, and techniques. Improved communication provided players with clarity about their roles and development paths.

Despite perceptions of comfort, the "Indiranagar ka Gunda" meme isn't entirely fictional. While not a raging madman, Dravid is not overly indulgent either. When stern, he leaves no room for misunderstanding, a trait witnessed by players who experienced his colorful language at Under-19 and India A levels. Dravid is unafraid of gamesmanship, even facing a fine for ball-tampering.

Many players under Dravid's coaching, including Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and a struggling Kuldeep Yadav, passed through the developmental levels. Dravid's impact at these levels played a crucial role in establishing a talent pipeline for the national team.

Some believed Dravid's forte lay in player development rather than leading established stars. Criticisms during his captaincy, such as the challenge convincing Sachin Tendulkar of his batting position and handling media leaks allegedly through Chappell, indicated struggles with managing big names. It was suggested that Dravid's true calling was nurturing players before they reached superstar status.


During a significant portion of Dravid's tenure, the team lacked a consistent captain due to injuries, and he maintained the existing successful strategies, including persisting with four fast bowlers in Tests abroad.

Once Rohit assumed the captaincy, Dravid played a pivotal role in modernizing the team's approach, emphasizing intent. While facing skepticism about aggressive batting leading to collapses, Dravid successfully conveyed that rare blowouts were the exception, not the rule, even with superstar players like Tendulkar and Ganguly.

The impact of this shift, embraced and led by Rohit, became evident in the World Cup semi-final. Previously, the team might have settled for 325 in those conditions, but the added intent provided a cushion, allowing India to remain composed during challenging moments against Daryl Mitchell and Kane Williamson.

Unlike the past, there's a reduced sense of us-against-the-world tension within the team. Dravid is open to seeking support from outside the sport, as seen when Virat Kohli acknowledged the role of mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton in his recent revival, emphasizing that this support was enlisted not only during victories but for overall player well-being.

Throughout the World Cup, a rare occasion of India being at full strength during Dravid's tenure, the team has displayed a newfound potential. Sustaining this level of cricket, even if the final results in an occasional setback, wouldn't diminish the significant progress they've achieved. Winning the final would be especially gratifying for a team unfairly criticized for their perceived underperformance in knockout matches, despite a commendable record in the league stages.

Dravid may take a moment to reflect on the haunting scenes from the dressing room during India's loss to Sri Lanka in Port-of-Spain in 2007. Cricket legends like Tendulkar, Dravid, Kumble, Ganguly, Sehwag, and Yuvraj sat disheartened, on the brink of tears, witnessing wickets tumble. While Tendulkar, Sehwag, and Yuvraj secured another chance at World Cup glory and seized it, others weren't as fortunate—a reality not lost on Dravid.

In a lighter vein, the coach might choose to chuckle at the past, possibly through another meme featuring the king of Bollywood.