Rahul Dravid Reveals How Rohit Sharma's Tactical Genius in 5 Crucial Overs Won India the T20 World Cup

At the launch of The Rise of the Hitman, former India head coach Rahul Dravid offered a rare window into the defining moments of India's 2024 T20 World Cup final victory in Barbados. Rather than celebrating the trophy or the jubilant aftermath, Dravid chose to spotlight five overs that, in his view, encapsulated everything about Rohit Sharma's captaincy.

"Those five overs for me, in some way, encapsulated the whole journey with Rohit Sharma."

Dravid reflected on the period when Heinrich Klaasen's sensational assault threatened to hand South Africa a historic maiden World Cup title.

The Moment India's Back Was Against the Wall

With South Africa surging and India reeling under Klaasen's onslaught, the meticulously laid plans began to unravel. The original strategy—holding Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh for the death overs—was suddenly inadequate as the game slipped away.

"We probably wanted to have Bumrah and Arshdeep to bowl the last two overs, but the game was slipping away from us, and we needed to get these guys back in."

It was here that Rohit's ability to read momentum and abandon rigidity proved decisive. Dravid termed it "great tactical knowledge"—the captain's instinct to sense when the tide was turning and act before it was too late.

Beyond Tactics: The Emotional Core of Rohit's Leadership

For Dravid, however, the most significant shift was emotional rather than purely strategic. The bond within the team, forged over years of shared purpose, came to the fore in those pressure-cooker moments.

"There was great camaraderie in the team, in terms of recognising that no one else is going to be in this when we fight."

Rohit's composure radiated outward, galvanising his teammates. Rishabh Pant, ever the instinctive cricketer, bought precious time by tending to his knee, disrupting South Africa's rhythm just enough for Hardik Pandya to dismiss the rampaging Klaasen.

"The team got right behind him. Rishabh understood what he needed to do at that moment. Everybody got involved."

The Culmination of Years of Work

Dravid was keen to emphasise that the final's defining passage was no improvisation. It was the fruit of sustained effort, trust, and alignment between coach and captain over years.

"It was the culmination of the work that had gone on over the last two or three years. For me, those five overs showed you why he had the team."

The Dravid-Rohit partnership, built on clarity and process, had prepared India for precisely such moments—when the plan frays and character is tested.

The Role of Luck: Suryakumar Yadav's Inch-Perfect Brilliance

Even as Dravid celebrated leadership and preparation, he was careful not to overstate design at the expense of fortune. Suryakumar Yadav's now-iconic boundary catch, executed with his foot a mere inch inside the rope, was a blend of tactical positioning and sheer luck.

"His ability to keep his leg within one inch of the rope, that's not something you see a thousand times. Your leg slips a little bit, you move, your pant touches the cushion, and that's it, sir. And you lose it in the end."

Dravid's humility was evident:

"We were fortunate, we were lucky in some of these things. We have to do the work, we have to do all that is required, but sometimes we need luck. We didn't have it in Ahmedabad. And we had it in Barbados."

Looking Ahead: India's Title Defence

With India's T20 title defence on the horizon, Dravid acknowledged their overwhelming favouritism—citing an 80% success rate in the format—but remained measured.

"Anyone of those teams can have a good day. So, India are favourites, they are phenomenal, they just have to be good on the day."

The lessons of Barbados, it seems, are as much about humility as they are about preparation.

Conclusion: The Anatomy of a Champion Captain

Rahul Dravid's reflections offer a masterclass in what separates great teams from good ones. Rohit Sharma's leadership in those five overs—calm, tactical, and emotionally intelligent—defined not just a match, but an era. As India prepare to defend their crown, the blueprint for success is clear: trust the process, back each other, and when luck arrives, be ready to seize it.