Dravid ‘screaming and crying’ with joy was special, says Ashwin | Cricket News

Chennai: Virat Kohli handing over the T20 World Cup trophy to coach Rahul Dravid after India’s title triumph in Barbados left the much-vaunted coach ‘screaming and crying’ in joy, is something that will remain etched in his memory, says Ravichandran Ashwin.

After India defeated South Africa in a thrilling final last month to win their second T20 World Cup, Dravid let his emotions run wild as he held the trophy aloft in a rare show.

Ashwin admitted that it was indeed a special moment for the 51-year-old Dravid, who failed to win an ICC title as a player but eventually cashed in as a coach during his last tournament as coach of Team India.

“My moment was when Virat Kohli called Rahul Dravid and gave him the cup… I saw him hugging the cup and crying,” he said in a video on his YouTube channel.

“Rahul Dravid was screaming and crying. I saw him enjoying it. I felt that very much.”

Ashwin also suspected that Dravid was nervous about taking charge of another campaign in the Caribbean as the team under his captaincy had already been knocked out in the group stages of the 2007 ODI World Cup.

“I want to talk about a saintly person. (In) 2007, (the) 50-over World Cup. India got knocked out. Rahul Dravid (was) the captain then. He is not the captain of the one-day team after that,” he said.

“He’s been with the Indian team. If something goes wrong, if the Indian team goes out, if they lose a match, they immediately ask what Dravid is doing.”

Ashwin also acknowledged the hard work Dravid put in during his stint as India coach, saying he brought balance to the team and changed the approach.

“I know what he has done with this team in the last two-three years. I know how balanced he has been. I know how hard he has worked to change this approach,” Ashwin said.

“I know what he has given to each of his players. Even when he is just sitting at home, he has planned how he would do this and that,” he added.

Under Dravid, India reached the finals of the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup, but lost to Australia on both occasions.