At a celebratory event for the launch of 'The Rise of the Hitman: The Rohit Sharma Story' by R. Kaushik, former India head coach Rahul Dravid offered a rare, behind-the-curtain look at the partnership that ended India’s 11-year ICC trophy drought.
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While the evening was a tribute to Rohit Sharma’s leadership, Dravid also issued a stark warning regarding the future of Test cricket, citing a lack of preparation time for all-format stars like Shubman Gill.
Dravid credited Rohit’s "man-management" as the catalyst for India’s white-ball dominance. He highlighted how Rohit’s decision to prioritize intent over his personal average transformed the team’s psyche.
Leading by example: Rohit took responsibility for setting the tempo in the powerplay, even if it meant getting out in the 40s or 90s.
Tactical nous: Dravid pointed to the 2024 T20 World Cup Final as the pinnacle of Rohit’s captaincy, specifically his decision to bring back Jasprit Bumrah when South Africa needed only 26 runs from 24 balls.
The "mood lifter": Dravid revealed that after the crushing Hyderabad Test loss in early 2024, it was Rohit who lifted the spirits of the entire squad; and the coach himself.
Rohit loved being one of the guys, but he balanced being the leader well. When your leader says, ‘I will do this at the cost of my average,’ it becomes much easier to pass that message through the team
Rahul Dravid
Dravid addressed India's recent Test struggles, including the home series losses to New Zealand (2024) and South Africa (2025). He echoed concerns recently raised by Shubman Gill about the lack of red-ball practice.
The prep gap: All-format players often move between series with only three to four days of training. Some go four to five months without hitting a red ball.
The IPL effect: While two-and-a-half months of IPL practice has made India a powerhouse in T20 hitting, it has eroded the specialized skills needed for "turning tracks or seaming wickets."
WTC pressure: Dravid noted that the hunt for World Test Championship points has forced home teams globally to produce "result-oriented" (extreme) pitches, further exposing batters who lack red-ball rhythm.
The book chronicles Rohit’s shift in mindset following the 2019 World Cup, where he finished as the top scorer but without the trophy.
The realization: Rohit admitted that his 2019 stats were "of no real use" without the title.
The adaptation: It took two years (2020–2022) for Rohit to fully adapt to a "fearless" style that prioritized team impact over the "statistics column."
