In the final of the 2023 World Cup, Australia defeated Team India by a crushing 6 wickets on Sunday. In a lopsided championship match at the storied Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Australia took advantage of the dry pitch when they called India to bat. They bowled brilliantly, finishing the innings at 240. Australia managed to reach the mark with 7 overs remaining after Travis Head’s game-winning performance of 137 off 120 deliveries helped the batting conditions improve under the lights.
India suffered their second final loss in an ICC tournament this year, despite being the clear favourites to win the championship after their incredible World Cup performance, in which they went undefeated till the very end. The team lost to Australia once more in the World Test Championship final in July. India’s drought for an ICC trophy continues; under MS Dhoni’s leadership, the team last won a title in 2013 when it overcame England to win the Champions Trophy. After everything has calmed down, it will be time to take stock and perhaps make some tactical as well as forced changes. The team’s head coach, Rahul Dravid, would be the topic of instant and intense discussion.
On Sunday, November 19, Dravid’s tenure as the Indian team’s head coach came to an official end. The future line of action has not yet been discussed in the BCCI. When asked about his outlook for the future and whether he is sticking to one style of game coaching, Dravid stayed evasive.
“I haven’t given it any thought. I recently finished a game. I didn’t have time to consider this or to think back on it. Yes, I will when I get the opportunity to do so,” he declared at the news conference following the game.
“At this moment, everything on my mind was this campaign, and I was focused on it. Furthermore, I haven’t given the future any more thought.”
The head coach of the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru and a former teammate of David Dravid, VVS Laxman, will take over as interim coach of the Indian second-string team when they play Australia in a five-match Twenty20 International series beginning on Thursday. It’s likely that shortly, BCCI will formally invite candidates for head coach positions. Laxman is planning to apply for the position.