Former India head coach Rahul Dravid has showered immense praise on captain Rohit Sharma, crediting him with a monumental shift in the team’s T20 cricket philosophy. According to Dravid, Rohit has not only revolutionized India’s approach but has also set unprecedented global standards for aggressive batting.
Reflecting on India’s evolution in the shortest format of the game, Dravid revealed that the strategic pivot towards a bold, high-scoring style was a deliberate decision made in collaboration with Rohit after he assumed captaincy.
“I can’t speak for what happened before my tenure, and it’s not my place to comment on that,” Dravid stated during a recent appearance on ‘Breakfast with Champions’. He continued, “However, from the moment I stepped in, much of our discussions with Rohit revolved around the desire to embrace a more aggressive brand of cricket. We initiated this change right from the outset, recognizing the direction in which the game was progressing.”
Dravid emphasized Rohit’s crucial role in this transformation: “Rohit deserves significant credit for steering the team in this specific direction, for fostering a much more aggressive and positive playing style.”
He further elaborated that India’s explosive performances in T20 Internationals have fundamentally redefined the format itself. “I’m thrilled that we persevered in that direction to the point where I believe India has genuinely, absolutely, changed the landscape of T20 cricket. Indian batting in T20 at present is simply phenomenal – it’s pushing close to scores of 300. Now, every other team globally is being forced to play catch-up. I think within just three or four years, you see everyone looking at India and realizing, ‘We’ve got to match this’,” Dravid added.
While acknowledging the role of coaches in boosting player confidence, Dravid underscored that the ultimate commendation belongs to the players and the leadership who bravely execute these risky strategies on the field.
“I wouldn’t attribute this entirely to myself; rather, I’d say it’s these players. They are the ones making it happen,” he asserted. “Of course, I’m not suggesting I deserve no credit. But the drive must come from the leaders, from the captain. It must be player-driven, because they are the ones who have to take those risks. You might offer them a certain level of security, but ultimately, they are the ones stepping up to take those chances and execute those risks.”