What Do You Think We Should Do Differently?": Rahul Dravid Reflects on Post-World Cup Strategy

India's cricketing journey in 2023 was a rollercoaster of triumphs and near-misses. Under Rohit Sharma's leadership, the Indian cricket team dazzled in the ODI World Cup, winning ten consecutive matches before succumbing to Australia in the final. Despite their dominant performance and the vibrant energy in the dressing room, India fell short of the ultimate goal as Australia secured a record-extending sixth ODI World Cup title.

Months later, India faced a similar narrative at the T20 World Cup. Again, the team was in formidable form, navigating an unbeaten run to the final and ultimately clinching the title. This success raised questions about what, if anything, had changed from the previous World Cup campaign.

Rahul Dravid, India's head coach, addressed these questions in an event in Mumbai. Reflecting on the ODI World Cup, Dravid shared his thoughts on the team's approach and preparation. "Honestly, I didn’t want to do anything different," he stated. "We ran a fantastic campaign in the one-day World Cup. Rohit and the team, everyone involved, ran a superb campaign."

Dravid revealed that, despite the heartbreak of the ODI final, the team’s internal discussions with the support staff didn’t suggest any need for significant changes. "We had a discussion with our support staff, asking what we should do differently," Dravid said. "The common consensus was that we need to do exactly what we did—create the same energy, the same team atmosphere, and hope for a bit of luck on the day."

Dravid, who hadn’t played a World Cup in India but experienced the fervor as a coach, reflected on the immense support and enthusiasm from the fans. "Traveling across the country and witnessing the joy and passion for cricket was incredible," he said. "I’ve never been part of a World Cup as a player in India, but the experience as a coach was phenomenal."

Despite the final outcome, Dravid acknowledged the quality of Australia's performance. "We came unstuck in the final, and Australia played better cricket on the day. They were the better team, and congratulations to them," he said. "That’s what sport is about—sometimes, despite everything going right, you come up against a team that is better on the day."