Rahul Dravid wanted Indian Under-19 side to celebrate quietly after World Cup win

What's the story?

Former India captain and the current coach of the India Under-19 team Rahul Dravid wanted his wards to celebrate their win in the final over Australia Under-19 politely. In a simple message to the youngsters, he advised them not to demean the opposition in any manner while rejoicing in their victory.

“After the win, Dravid told the boys to cherish the moment. He instructed them not to direct any insult towards anyone - “we can celebrate the victory politely also” - and the players did exactly as per their coach’s instructions,” said a source aware of the Indian dressing room proceedings.

In case you didn't know...

In the final of the twelfth edition of the ICC Under-19 World Cup yesterday, India comprehensively beat Australia by 8 wickets while chasing a relatively modest target of 217. Opener Manjot Kalra remained unbeaten on 101 as India beat Australia for the second time in the tournament after also edging past them in the group stages. This was India's fourth Under-19 title, the most by any team so far.

The heart of the matter

A quiet man himself throughout his international career, Dravid wanted his boys to maintain a certain decorum without hurting any sentiments in the process of celebrating the triumph. The 45-year-old was always one who preferred the old school approach of maintaining dignity despite having achieved something major.

In fact, his former teammate Sachin Tendulkar also emphasised the point by saying, “One thing I noticed about the team is that they are disciplined. Dravid himself always placed impetus on discipline and the team has gained from his experience which has been at the highest level.”

Video

Behind the scenes as the celebrations continue for India in the changing room! 🏆🇮🇳 #U19CWC pic.twitter.com/W50gu2TMgi

— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) February 3, 2018

Author's take

With modern cricketers possessing an attitude of extreme passion – the captain of India's senior team Virat Kohli is a classic example – it is heartening to see that Dravid, a veteran of the game, tried his best to prevent the young, passionate cricketers from indulging in over-the-top celebrations.