Kolkata: As India registered a clean sweep over New Zealand with a 73 run victory in the final game of the T20I series on Sunday at Eden Gardens, new head-coach Rahul Dravid wouldn’t ask for a better start to his new role. Many of the experts have already began hoping that Dravid’s influence might help India become a better performer at the ICC tournaments.
However, the 48 year old in his mind might satisfied for entirely a different reason.The fraternity which has been giving him constant support since his appointment were actually the ones who once fumed against him especially the venue where India played last Sunday evening.
16 years ago, in November 2005, at this very Eden Gardens, India were handed an embarrassing 10 wicket defeat by South Africa in an ODI game. India,lead by Rahul Dravid back then were bundled out at a mere 188 before Protea skipper Greame Smith(124*) and Andrew Hall(48*) smashed every Indian bowlers to chase down the target in 35.5 overs.
The entire stadium was already enraged when the local lad and current BCCI president Sourav Ganguly was sacked earlier that year, with the Prince of Kolkata’s spat with then coach Gregg Chappell also making headlines.
As India was on the verge of loss, some supporters yelled Ganguly’s name, with many calling for their hometown hero to return to the senior team. Fans publicly thought Dravid was in the tuscle mix as well, despite the fact that nothing was reported for the Karnataka star.
Over a decade later, in his first stint as a coach with the senior national team, Dravid might be content offering a silent response to his critics of that venue on Sunday, but it’s hard to locate the emotions on the who let his actions do the talking.
