Rohit Sharma promised 'Guru Dakshina' to me by winning T20 World Cup: Coach Dinesh Lad | Exclusive

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India captain Rohit Sharma wanted to give 'Guru Dakshina' (A Teacher's Fee/Tribute to a Teacher) to his coach Dinesh Lad, and did exactly so by winning the T20 World Cup in 2024.

Rohit Sharma's childhood coach Dinesh Lad has played the biggest part in his formative years. The Mumbai-born was identified by Lad in 2000 and under his guidance, Rohit went on to blossom as a cricketer.

Rohit captained India in the World Cup 2023 on home soil as team India suffered a heartbreaking loss in the final against Australia. The entire country was numb and the players were also deeply hurt. But the team came back strongly in their next ICC campaign, winning the T20 World Cup this year in West Indies.

Rohit Sharma also had redemption as India captain as he became only the 3rd Indian captain to win a World Cup - after Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni. And recently, in an exclusive interview with MyKhel, Dinesh Lad revealed that he had a candid talk with Rohit Sharma after the World Cup final defeat last year.

"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 told MyKhel.

But the India captain was determined to make amends and promised Lad to win the T20 World Cup. Rohit was desperate to make his mark as an Indian captain and also tribute to his coach with a World Cup trophy.

"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 aapke liye main Guru Dakshina le ke aa raha hoon (Sir, I am bringing your fee with me)," said Lad, who never charges a penny from his students.

Rohit took retirement from the T20I format immediately after winning the T20 World Cup. The veteran has another opportunity to win another ICC tournament as the Champions Trophy is on the horizon.

Lad also went on to reveal Rohit's fantastic character as a captain, a skill in which he has thrived since his early days. Under Rohit's captaincy, many youngsters have already flourished and the India captain is known for his brotherhood with the youngsters. And the coach says he had full belief that Rohit's captaincy and leadership on the field will be hailed.

"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. He knew everything - which bowler to use or which batter to send. He knows that if everyone stays together, only then we can win the match. So, it was his habit from the beginning. So, it was not a surprise for me when he became a captain for India," Lad continued with a spark on his face, a pride that exuberates from the face of a proud Guru.