India Under-19 team have never looked this strong in the tournament as they did today. There is one man who needs to be credited for the brand of cricket the youngsters have been playing, and that is head coach Rahul Dravid. ‘The Wall’ chose India Under-19 team over coaching an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise and his decision has paid off. Prithvi Shaw-led Team India brought the World Cup back home after six years.
India emerged as the undisputed champion of the tournament after giving their opposition a run for their money. Dravid, who could never be part of a World Cup-winning side in his 15-year-long career, managed to achieve his dream through Under-19 World Cup.
Dravid nurtured the young talented team, who stunned the world right from the start of their WC campaign. Whether it is the pace of the fast bowlers, or attacking play of the batsmen to throw the bowlers off their game.
After winning the Under-19 World Cup 2018, Dravid’s interview was cut-short by the team as they celebrated their victory. It was amazing to see that even after coaching the World Champions, Dravid stayed humbled. As the young team could not stop cheering, Rahul could be seen trying to complete the interview without bursting into laughter. He said,
It’s a bit embarrassing that I have been getting all the focus but this is all about the players and support staff’s hard work.
Here’s the video of the interview:
Man of the moment – Rahul Dravid
These boys in such safe hands. Safest hands of Rahul Dravid. #INDvAUS #U19CWC #U19WorldCupFinal #ICCU19CWC pic.twitter.com/S1OLUTiZ2F— Amit Singh (@amit_beau123) February 3, 2018
Twitterati could not stop praising Dravid after the win while a few cracked jokes and explained Dravid’s situation in their own version. Here’s how they reacted –
Every Indian is delighted, all credit to Rahul Dravid for committing himself to these young kids ,and a legend like him deserves to lay his hands on the WC. Only Fitting. #INDvAUS
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) February 3, 2018
This is Cute Rahul Dravid trying to give interview to TV and U19 boys shouting behind him but Dravid still serious about what he does…
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) February 3, 2018
Rahul Dravid right now. #U19CWC pic.twitter.com/v18Mqq45Rf
— Archit Puri (@bantofu) February 3, 2018
Rahul Dravid’s boys win the U19-World Cup! @sifydotcom cartoon #U19WorldCup #RahulDravid pic.twitter.com/ED7LKlqsPS
— Satish Acharya (@satishacharya) February 3, 2018
Rahul Dravid standing in the dressing room, tears flowing down his cheeks and teeja tera rang tha main toh playing in the background. Incredible scenes ! #U19CWC
— Rofl Gandhi (@RoflGandhi_) February 3, 2018
Cricket fans to Rahul Dravid.#INDvAUS #U19CWC pic.twitter.com/Gv5tHpO2eO
— Scar (@RAC7R) February 3, 2018
Rahul dravid right now #U19CWC pic.twitter.com/7Zdi86MYC7
— Corporate Dalit (@CorporateDalit) February 3, 2018
Statue of Rahul Dravid outside BCCI HQ needed
— Aakash (@PUNchayati) February 3, 2018
Rahul Dravid Right Now.#INDvAUS #ICCU19CWC #U19CWC #U19WorldCupFinal #U19CWCFinal pic.twitter.com/wU1ADWqibj
— Humour Thoughts (@HumourThoughts) February 3, 2018
U19 Indian Team & Rahul Dravid nw
#Dravid #U19WC pic.twitter.com/RAKTNPgI9S— Thozhaa (@thozhaaaa) February 3, 2018
Rahul Dravid to Shastri after finals #INDvAUS #U19CWC #Under19WC #under19worldcup #U19WorldCup #RahulDravid pic.twitter.com/oznnlDB0k8
— Rishabh Srivastava (@AskRishabh) February 3, 2018
“Hopefully its not a win that defines them. Hopefully they go on to bigger and better things.” Rahul Dravid. Front foot forward, eases into that drive and the ball pings the boundary rope. #ICCU19CWC
— Jamie Alter (@jamie_alterTOI) February 3, 2018
If you r happy and Crying for this win ..believe me , You are crying For Rahul Dravid!!!
Man of the Hour!!#INDvAUS #U19CWCFinal #under19worldcup #RahulDravid pic.twitter.com/yW2p88URme— 100Rab (@BatwadaSaurabh) February 3, 2018
When Life Gives You Rahul, Make It Dravid Not Gandhi. #ICCU19WorldCup #U19CWC #INDvAUS #INDvsAUS #Under19WC #ManjotKalra #U19CWCFinal #U19WorldCupFinal #RahulDravid Rahul Dravid pic.twitter.com/OTM2x3seaM
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) February 3, 2018
Rahul Dravid cracks me up. Speaks during interview about how embarrassed he is sometimes as coach of India U-19 because too much attention is put on him because of his stature rather than the players and support staff. Class act. World cricket needs more of him.
— Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna) February 3, 2018
What a humble man Rahul Dravid is – speaking about how the win should be about the players & not him & how the focus should be on the great work the players have done rather than himself #U19CWC
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) February 3, 2018
Congrats to the U19 Boys in Blue for winning the #CWCU19 Loved the celebration Rahul Dravid take a bow. #INDvAUS #kalra #undefeated
— Preity zinta (@realpreityzinta) February 3, 2018
For some, this will be the biggest moment in their lives. But as Rahul Dravid said, they must look upon this as a stepping stone. #ICCU19CWC
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 3, 2018
Finally a World Cup for Rahul Dravid!
No one deserves it more than him!#U19CWC— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) February 3, 2018
Wow! What a feeling.. The boys have made all of us proud. This victory brought a big smile and wow that feeling of pride Thank you Team and everyone associated with it. Special thank you to Rahul Dravid – Our Wall! #ICCU19CWC #ICCU19WorldCup pic.twitter.com/3OGUxdHCV0
— Priyanka Bhatt (@iPriyankaBhatt) February 3, 2018
For me the scene of the day is the entire bunch jumping behind Rahul Dravid while he is on air!! That’s some amount of space and freedom of expression in the young team! Kudos to Rahul for that.
— Anirudh Chaudhry (@AnirudhChaudhry) February 3, 2018
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Every time this man takes charge of something, the job done is a class apart! Thank You, Rahul Dravid! #WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/JHIHwUgPw5
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) February 3, 2018
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Even after the match, Dravid didn’t want the focus to be on him, saying that he was happy enough with his team reaching the final, and was not nervous leading into the game. He hoped the players would convert this into good First-Class careers riding high on confidence.
