Rohit Sharma credits Dravid’s processes for India’s champions trophy triumph

Rohit Sharma on Tuesday said India’s victory in the Champions Trophy earlier this year was a result of processes established during Rahul Dravid's tenure, crediting the team for embracing the philosophy set by the former captain-coach duo. With Rohit and Dravid at the helm, India bounced back from the heartbreak of losing the 2023 ODI World Cup final at home to Australia, going on to win the next two ICC events the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy.

"Look, I love that team. I loved playing with them, and it’s been a journey we’ve all been part of for many years. It’s not just about one or two years of work; it’s about consistent effort over time," Rohit said during the CEAT Cricket Rating awards here. "We came so close to winning that trophy many times but couldn’t get over the line. That’s when everyone decided we needed to do something different, and there are two ways to look at it." "One is to think about doing it, and the other is actually going and doing it. It cannot be achieved by one or two players alone. Everyone needed to buy into that thought, which was excellent," he added.

Rohit, who received a memento for winning the Champions Trophy, also shared insights into the team’s philosophy during the two ICC events India won under his captaincy. "All the players who participated in the Champions Trophy embraced the thought process of how to win games, how to challenge ourselves, and how not to be complacent or take anything for granted," he said. "These were the qualities we tried to instill, and we aimed to execute them consistently. Everyone enjoyed the process. Once we won the first game, we put it aside and focused on the next one."

"That approach was really helpful for the team and for Rahul bhai and me while planning for the 2024 T20 World Cup and later the Champions Trophy. We carried that mindset forward," he added. Rohit also reflected on the 2023 World Cup: "Although we didn’t cross the line in the finals, we set out to do something as a team, and everyone contributed." It’s worth noting that former India opener Gautam Gambhir, not Dravid, was the head coach when India won the Champions Trophy.

Rohit said he took pride in trying to excel in all three formats, adding that he understands what is expected from the upcoming tour of Australia, even though he was recently removed as ODI captain.

Rohit, now replaced by Shubman Gill as captain in both Tests and ODIs, will be part of the Indian squad for the three-match ODI series in Australia alongside Virat Kohli. The series starts on October 19. "I have always taken pride in trying to excel in all three formats whenever given the opportunity. That mindset has rubbed off on the team as well," Rohit said.

"I love playing against Australia. It’s a challenging country to play in, and the people there love cricket. Every series there is a different challenge. Having been there several times, I understand what to expect. Hopefully, we can perform well and get results in India’s favour," he added.