Rahul Dravid has confirmed that the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will be his last assignment as the head coach of the Indian Cricket Team. Dravid, who took over as head coach in November 2021, has stated that he will not apply for the position again, for which the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had recently advertised.
Speaking ahead of India’s first game in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 against Ireland in New York, Dravid said,
“It is going to be the last one that I am in-charge of. Yeah, just considering, unfortunately, the kind of schedules and where I find myself at this stage in my life, I don’t think I’ll be able to re-apply. So yeah, obviously it’ll be my last one. But having said that, it’s (the significance of the tournament is) no different for me.”
As Dravid looks forward to conquering his final frontier, let’s look back at his records as the head coach of the Indian Cricket Team.
Dravid’s Coaching Record
Since taking charge in 2021, Rahul Dravid has had a significant impact on the Indian Cricket Team. His tenure includes 14 out of 17 bilateral series wins and strong performances in major ICC tournaments. Here is a summary of his record:
Test Match Cricket (Since November 2021)
No one can forget India’s performance against England at Lord’s in 2022, where India secured a dramatic win by 151 runs. Dravid’s emphasis on discipline and nurturing young talent has strengthened India’s Test match performances. India won a crucial Test series against Australia in early 2023, clinching a memorable victory on the home shores. The victory against the Australians led Rahul Dravid’s troops to the finals of the ICC World Test Championship 2023.
WIN PERCENTAGE IN TESTS: 65%
Bilateral ODI Series Records (Since November 2021)
Under Dravid’s guidance, India has played 14 bilateral ODI series. India has won 10 of these series, showcasing a strong performance in the 50-over format.
Some extraordinary series victories include wins against England, South Africa, and West Indies.
WIN PERCENTAGE IN ODI’s: 73.47%
Bilateral T20I Series Records (Since November 2021)
India has played 15 bilateral T20I series with Dravid as head coach and the Indian Cricket Team has secured victory in 11 of these series. Series triumphs against New Zealand, Australia, and Sri Lanka can be called as the highlights of Dravid’s coaching stint.
WIN PERCENTAGE IN T20I’s: 61%
India’s Performance in ICC Tournaments
Since taking over the coaching responsibilities in November 2021, Dravid has guided India through several high-stake competitions, including the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 and ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, the ICC Men’s World Test Championship 2023 and the megaevent, the ICC Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup in 2023. While India consistently reached the knockout stages, Dravid’s men faced tough challenges in converting these opportunities into tournament victories.
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 was held in the UAE. India was knocked out in the group stage of the tournament. Despite strong performances in the group stages, India was defeated by Pakistan by 10 wickets.
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022
In the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia, the Indian Cricket Team had a mixed performance under Dravid. India reached the semi-finals but was hammered by England. India lost the 2nd semi-final by 10 wickets.
ICC Men’s World Test Championship 2023
India had a successful campaign in whites during the ICC World Test Championship 2023 cycle, reaching the finals. However, Dravid and Co. had to face defeat to Australia in the grand finale at The Oval, London. Australia went on beating India by a massive margin of 209 runs.
ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023
India performed admirably in the ICC Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup 2023, making it to the finals. Dravid’s coaching was on point as he went on building a strong comradery in the Indian dressing room during the tournament. Dravid was again challenged by India’s old foes, Australia in the finals and again it was Australia who outclassed India in front of their home crowd. India faced a 6 wicket defeat.
Dravid’s Coaching Performance
With a 72.41% win record in the ICC tournaments, Rahul Dravid’s coaching tenure has been marked by a couple of exceptional achievements and challenges. In bilateral series, India has been dominant, especially in the shorter formats, securing victories against top-tier teams. Dravid’s emphasis on nurturing young talent and fostering a strong team culture has been evident throughout his tenure.
In ICC tournaments, India consistently reached the knockout stages under Dravid’s mentorship. However, the men in blue struggled to convert these opportunities into tournament victories. Despite this, Dravid’s strategic brilliance and calm demeanor have earned him respect and admiration within the cricketing community.
As Dravid steps down from the role of head coach post ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, his legacy as a coach will be remembered for the stability and growth he brought to the Indian team. His contributions have laid a strong foundation for future successes, and his departure will mark the end of a significant chapter in Indian cricket.
The Sportz Planet Desk,
Atharva Shetye
