Gautam Gambhir Slams Rohit Sharma For His Statement On Rahul Dravid Before World Cup ODI 2023 Final

Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir criticised Rohit Sharma for his comments on Indian head coach Rahul Dravid ahead of the World Cup ODI 2023 final between India and Australia. Both skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Dravid led team India to a massive feat by reaching the finals of the marquee event with an unbeaten streak of 10 wins. An unfortunate string of events in the final led them to a defeat by six wickets in front of the Aussies on November 19 in the final clash. 

Before the match, Rohit was in all praise for Dravid's role in managing the star-studded team and lighted on the team’s wish to win the trophy for the ex-Indian cricketing legend. Dravid never won the trophy in his career despite participating in this event three times as a player - 1999, 2003 and 2007. In fact, he was the skipper when Team India faced an embarrassing group-stage exit in 2007.

"The way he stood by the players in difficult times, especially during the T20 World Cup, where we had a good run up until that semifinal, where we lost. How he reacted to certain situations and informed the players was helpful. He wants to be part of this big occasion, and it's for us to do it for him," Rohit stated in the pre-match media conference. 

Gambhir showed his support for Team India management to renew Dravid as the head coach for the likes of the team’s excellent performance in the 2023 edition of the ODI World Cup but didn’t back Rohit’s comment and compared them as similar to statements made in 2011 by some Indian players for Sachin Tendulkar.

"Dravid's contract as head coach should be automatically renewed. The kind of cricket that India played throughout the World Cup if you are going to judge a coach by just one match then it is a wrong precedent," expressed Gambhir. 

"Every player, every coach wants to win the World Cup. If he wants a renewal then definitely he should be given that chance. What better than continuity? I would never understand one thing. It happened during our time in 2011 too. When you say that you want to win the World Cup an individual, doesn't matter who that is... this statement is not right.

"You are trying to win the World Cup for the entire country. And if you want to say such a thing then don't say it in the media. Keep it within yourself. The truth is, it is more important to win a World Cup for the nation. I was asked the same in 2011 when everyone said we were trying to win the World Cup for one individual, I said no I want to win the Cup for my country. I picked up the bat for my country. So Rohit probably shouldn't have said this," Gambhir added. 

Rahul Dravid served as the head coach of the Indian Cricket Team for two years while replacing Ravi Shastri in November 2021.