Former India captain and ex-Team India coach Rahul Dravid suggested that a little bit of luck factor plays a huge role in the result of big matches. He drew parallels between ODI World Cup 2023 final loss and a historic win at the T20 World Cup 2024. The whole nation suffered a heartbreak on the fateful day of 19 November 2023, when India lost the final against Australia in the ODI World Cup final. However, the broken hearts were healed on 29 June 2024 when India lifted the T20 World Cup 2024.
India had reached the final of the ODI World Cup with an unbeaten 10-match winning streak. However, the smiles soon turned into sorrow, especially after Rohit Sharma’s catch by Travis Head in the first innings. Travis Head’s job was not just done yet as he played a final-winning knock of 137 runs to help Australia become world champions for the record 6th time. Eight months later, India had their revenge as they beat Australia by 24 runs in the lead-up to the semi-final.
When billions of hearts were healed
The Rohit Sharma-led men were not going to stop there as they reached the final and faced South Africa. Despite the challenges and momentum being alongside the Proteas, India pulled off a memorable come-from-behind win to give memories of a lifetime to the billions of Indians.
Dravid on Wednesday recalled how crucial it was for the team to stick to the cliched process and hope for luck to favour them against South Africa.
The parallel between ODI WC loss and T20 WC win
“Sometimes at the end of the day, you need a little bit of luck. (Against South Africa in T20WC final)âæ 30 balls to go, 30 runs to go. (It was about) incredible execution, incredible calmness by Rohit.” “We didn’t focus on what we needed to do, but we needed a guy who could keep his foot within one inch of a line. Sometimes (it is) the skill,” he said without mentioning Suryakumar Yadav’s T20 World Cup winning catch at the boundary ropes to dismiss David Miller.
Dravid then recalled how India were close to dismissing Travis Head in the ODI World Cup final so many times, but the opener rode on his tremendous luck to come up with a match-winning century.
“(On) 19th Novemberâæ I remember whatever it was, we beat Travis Head’s bat 15 times – he didn’t touch a single ball. You know, things can go your way sometimes, but you have to stick to the process,” he said.
Source Agencies
