Childhood coach Dinesh Lad reveals Rohit Sharma promised him ‘Guru Dakshina’ post T20 World Cup victory. (Source – Getty Images)
The Indian team has had several ups and downs in the past year, from losing the WTC final in early 2023 to losing the ODI World Cup final to Australia in the latter stages of the year. India needed a resurgence, and that came through in the T20 World Cup 2024 when the Men in Blue won the title in the tournament held in the USA and Barbados.
It is worth noting that after winning the T20 World Cup, India skipper Rohit Sharma had promised ‘Guru Dakshina’ to his childhood coach Dinesh Lad. Interestingly, Lad has played a big role in Rohit Sharma’s early years, and the skipper was identified by Lad in 2000, as he went on to lead India to a T20 World Cup.
“After losing the final we had a talk. I told him that we played badly. I told him that your wicket went wrong and if you didn’t get out at the right time [things could have been different]. ‘Because of the way you were batting, it was excellent. You were batting in a positive way. You played for the team,'” Lad was quoted as saying by MyKhel.
Furthermore, Lad revealed Rohit had promised him that he would win the T20 World Cup 2024 and will give him ‘Guru Dakshina’ as well.
“He [Rohit] promised me. He said that he would win the T20 World Cup. He said that ‘Sir, I will win the T20 World Cup and give you Guru Dakshina’. And when India won the trophy, he called me and said, ‘Sir, I am bringing your fee with me,” Lad said further.
Basically, it was not a surprise for me: Lad
There is no doubt that Rohit Sharma has been well established as one of the best batters of this generation. Dinesh Lad went on to laud Rohit for his brilliant character as the leader of the Indian team.
“Basically, it was not a surprise for me. Because he was a captain for the school as well. The way he captained in the school matches, I didn’t have to tell him to bowl or do this or that,” Lad said.