'Tough to see': Rahul Dravid opens up on Team India's dressing room emotions after losing CWC title

Indian Cricket Team lost the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 to Australia on Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Cummins' leadership and Head's 137-run innings cost India the match, hurting the home team. Australia won the toss and decided to bowl, Rohit Sharma and his team were restricted to 240 after being all out in 50 overs. Australia was victorious in their innings as they made 241/4 in 43 overs and went on to lift their 6th ICC ODI World Cup title.

3 things you need to know

• Australia beat India by 6 wickets with 42 balls left 
• Australia won its 6th ICC ODI World Cup 2023 title 
• Travis Head was named the Player of the Match

Also Read: Cricket world reacts as Australia win World Cup

Rahul Dravid said a lot about how the players felt in the locker room

Mohammed Siraj was shedding tears down his cheeks, while KL Rahul was sitting on his haunches. As he left the pitch, Captain Rohit Sharma tried not to show how he felt, but his eyes betrayed him. In an attempt to keep his feelings hidden from the public, Virat Kohli took solace beneath his cap.

Following India's six-wicket loss in the final, head coach Rahul Dravid acknowledged to the media that there was emotional instability inside the team. This display of emotion was a tribute to the months of unwavering dedication and hard work that had taken them this close to breaking the country's ten-year trophy drought with an ICC trophy. Talking to the reporters, Rahul Dravid said: 

Yeah, of course, he's (Rohit Sharma) disappointed, as are many boys in the dressing room. It wasn't, yeah, there were a lot of emotions in that dressing room. It was tough to see as a coach, because I know how hard these guys have worked, what they've put in, the sacrifices they've made. So, it's tough. I mean, it's tough to see that as a coach, because you get to know these boys personally. You get to see the effort they put in, the hard work that we've put in over the last month, the kind of cricket we've played. But yeah, but that's sport.

That happens. It can happen. And the better team won on the day. And I'm sure that the sun will come up tomorrow morning. We'll learn from it. We'll reflect. And we'll move on, as will everyone else. I mean, that's what you do as sportsmen. You have some great highs in sport, and you have some lows in sport. And you keep moving on. You don't stop. Because if you don't put yourself on the line, you don't put yourself in games like these, you don't experience the great highs. And neither do you experience the great lows. And if you don't do that, you don't learn.”

Also Read: We stand with you, says PM Modi after India's loss

Rahul Dravid said that the team will come back stronger 

Dravid expressed faith that the squad would recover from their recent loss and go on to achieve even greater exploits, drawing on his experience as captain during the forgettable 2007 World Cup. He added: 

That's sport, it happens. It can happen and the better team won on the day. And I'm sure the sun will come up tomorrow morning. We'll learn from it, we'll reflect. And we'll move on. As will everyone else. That's what we do as sportsmen. You have some great highs and lows in sports but you don't stop because if you don't put yourself on the line, don't put yourself in situations like these, you don't experience it, you don't learn.