"Hope we'll still be friends" - Rahul Dravid's parting words on Rohit Sharma spark curiosity

Rahul Dravid has revealed Rohit Sharma’s some of the qualities that really impressed him. Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma were the coach-captain pair for the last four years for Team India. They had the task of grabbing an ICC title for India. 

Although there were many ups and downs for the duo, they eventually won an ICC title for the team after a wait of 11 years. India won the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa by 7 runs in a nail-biting clash. Last time, they lost the ODI World Cup title to Australia on home soil. 

The duo entertained Indian fans for the last 3-4 years since ICC T20 World Cup 2021. Notably, India faced a first-round exit in the tournament and Kohli left the captaincy. He later also left the ODI and Test captaincy. As a result, Sharma was appointed as the only skipper across all formats with no better option for the same. 

Also Read: Watch: Rohit Sharma kisses Hardik Pandya after T20 World Cup triumph in a heartwarming moment

I'll miss Rohit Sharma as a person: Rahul Dravid 

However, the Rahul Dravid-Rohit Sharma pair will not be seen together in the Indian team now. Rohit Sharma has retired from the T20I format and Rahul Dravid has parted ways with BCCI as the Head Coach of the Indian team.

However, both of them shared a close relationship over the last 4 years as they were the leaders of the team in all three formats. Speaking about Rohit Sharma to PTI after India clinched the title, Rahul Dravid said he will miss him and hope they will still be friends. 

“I'll miss him as a person. I forget the cricket and forget the captain and everything. I just think I'll... I hope we'll still be friends. So I'm probably not going to miss that”,  he said. 

Dravid also shared some qualities of Rohit Sharma that impressed him the most like the energy he brings to the side. 

“But I think what's really impressed me in all of this has been just the kind of person he is. The kind of respect he's shown me. The kind of care and commitment he's had to the team. The kind of energy he's had to spend. And he's never backed down from it”, the former India skipper further said. 

Also Read: Watch: Jasprit Bumrah clean bowls Marco Jansen with an unplayable delivery in T20 World Cup final

Rohit Sharma is a great captain: Rahul Dravid 

Dravid also added that Rohit Sharma is a great captain and he will remember him the most. 

“So for me, I think it's the person that I will remember the most. His cricketing, he'll be a great captain, he'll be a great player and he'll score runs and whatever.  He'll win trophies. But I think it's who he is as a person that I will remember the most”, he further added. 

Notably, Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma also clinched Asia Cup 2023 last year by defeating Sri Lanka in the final by a humiliating margin. Although India did not win the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 last year, they were the most dominating team that won every game of the league stage with consistency. Even in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, India crushed every other team from the start.