Dravid's two-slide masterstroke: The presentation that inspired Rohit, Kohli, and the team before the World Cup final

Rahul Dravid is known for his articulate communication and exceptional man-management skills. However, before the T20 World Cup final, he proved that sometimes actions speak louder than words. After India’s remarkable seven-run victory over South Africa, ending a 13-year drought for a World Cup trophy, Suryakumar Yadav revealed a pivotal moment orchestrated by the India head coach.

Dravid’s impactful two-slide presentation highlighted the extensive experience of India’s T20I players. The first slide showed the number of T20Is played by key players like captain Rohit Sharma, stalwart Virat Kohli, and the youngest squad member, Yashasvi Jaiswal. The next slide compared this to the T20I experience of India’s coaching staff, with Dravid being the only one who had played at the highest level.

Highlighting experience and emphasizing presence

Suryakumar, who took a match-defining catch in the final over, explained that Dravid’s presentation was meant to underline the vast experience of India’s players in the T20 format. With the IPL and Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s contributing to their expertise, even the youngest members like Jaiswal had substantial exposure to high-pressure games.

“He showed a graph of the number of T20I games the entire Indian team had played — from Virat bhai to Yashasvi Jaiswal (the most junior member). That number was 800-plus,” Suryakumar told The Indian Express. “And then he showed a second slide that had the number of games that the entire coaching staff, including Rahul bhai, had played — that number was 1.”

India’s dominant performance, remaining undefeated throughout the tournament, was a testament to their preparation and mindset. Suryakumar shared the team’s motto: “live in the present and don’t worry about the future.” This approach, championed by Dravid, helped India make the final of all three ICC events in the last 13 months, with only one loss in their last 20 World Cup matches.

The end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter

As India celebrated their historic win, it also marked the end of Dravid’s tenure as head coach. Choosing not to renew his contract, Dravid leaves a legacy of resilience and strategic brilliance. The BCCI is now in the process of selecting the next head coach, with former India openers Gautam Gambhir and WV Raman being the frontrunners.

“He (Dravid) said to us, ‘You are the best judge here to make the right call at the right time. So leave every other thing to us, go out there and enjoy your game’,” Suryakumar said.

“Before the start, we decided that we won’t talk about what lies ahead in the tournament. Nobody thought about Super 8 and the same was true for the finals in Barbados. Our mind has to be where our feet are — that was our motto,” he said.

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Dravid’s two-slide presentation before the final will be remembered as a masterstroke that encapsulated his ability to inspire and lead, even without words. His departure ushers in a new era for Indian cricket, with the foundation he laid promising continued success.