Rahul Dravid capped off his coaching stint with the senior Indian Men’s Cricket Team by guiding them to their second T20 World Cup triumph in June 2024.
He was at the helm for two and a half years, after taking up the job in November 2021. Dravid brought his vast experience of coaching India Under-19 and India A teams and serving as the Head of Cricket at the National Cricket Academy.
The former Indian batter was instrumental in making India a formidable team under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, which culminated in terrific dominance across formats.
Here we will glance at Rahul Dravid’s coaching stint as Indian coach. (Note: Only those series and tournaments where Rahul Dravid served as head coach have been considered.)
Test Cricket
When Rahul Dravid took over as India’s head coach, the 2021-23 World Test Championship (WTC) was already underway. His first assignment as head coach was against New Zealand in November 2021 at home, which the Men in Blue won by 1-0 (2).
Soon, India toured South Africa in December 2021 and January 2022. They started the series by winning the first Test but faced defeats in the next 2 games to lose the series by 1-2.
In March 2022, India clean-swept Sri Lanka in a 2-match Test series at home, while at the end of the year, the Men in Blue thrashed Bangladesh by 2-0 in their backyard.
Then came the all-important Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, which India won by 2-1 to qualify for the WTC Final. India were up against Australia in the WTC Final, where they were handed a drubbing by 209 runs.
The 2023-25 WTC cycle began soon, and India started on a winning note against the West Indies by winning the 2-match series 1-0. Dravid travelled with the Indian team to South Africa for the second time, helping them draw the series 1-1 this time.
His last Test series as coach came against England at home. India lost the first match but made a resounding comeback to clinch the series 4-1.
Under Dravid’s management, India won 6 Test series while losing and levelling one each.
ODI Cricket
The Indian men played quite a lot of ODI cricket in the lead-up to the 2023 Cricket World Cup (CWC), scheduled on home soil. Under Rahul Dravid’s watchful eyes, India squared off in 11 bilateral ODI series and 2 back-to-back multination tournaments — Asia Cup and CWC in 2023.
Dravid had a sour start to his coaching stint in ODIs as South Africa hammered India by 3-0 in January 2022. The next month, the Men in Blue clinched the 3-match series against the West Indies 3-0 at home.
Dravid’s first overseas series triumph came in England in July 2022, as India beat the hosts 2-1, followed by another victory over the West Indies by 3-0 in August 2022.
In October 2022, India overcame the obstacle of South Africa by 2-1 at home before going down against Bangladesh 1-2 in December 2022.
India started 2023 with resounding success against Sri Lanka and New Zealand, handing both teams humiliating defeats by 3-0. March 2023 saw India surrender against Australia, losing the 3-match series 1-2 at home.
During India’s all-format tour to the Caribbean Islands in July 2023, they defeated the West Indies 2-1. India travelled to Sri Lanka for the 2023 Asia Cup, which they won by defeating Sri Lanka in a dominating manner in the final.
India played against Australia again in September 2023, turning the tables on the visitors 2-1 before the World Cup.
The Men in Blue had a formidable run in the 2023 ODI World Cup, winning 10 games on the trot to enter the summit clash. The Indian team fell short of victory after losing the final against Australia.
Overall, India won 8 bilateral ODI series and lost 3 in Dravid’s 2-year tenure.
T20I Cricket
Like the ODI format, India played significant T20I cricket, contesting 13 bilateral series and 3 multination tournaments under Dravid’s coaching tenure.
Rahul Dravid got a blistering start in T20Is, winning the 3-match series against New Zealand 3-0 in November 2021. This was Dravid’s first-ever series after assuming India’s coaching charge.
February 2022 brought massive success for Dravid-led management as India thrashed the West Indies and Sri Lanka 3-0 in their respective series. After the 2022 IPL, India hosted South Africa for a 5-match series, which culminated in a 2-2 draw.
The next month, the Men in Blue thumped hosts England by 2-1. They continued their successful run in the West Indies, handing the hosts a series defeat by 4-1 in August 2022.
In the 2022 Asia Cup, the Indian team had a topsy-turvy outing, bowing out in the Super Four stage. Before flying out to Australia for the 2022 T20 World Cup, India defeated Australia and South Africa in their respective series 2-1.
In the 2022 T20 World Cup, India reached the semi-final but lost terribly against England by 10 wickets.
The Indian men started 2023 on a high, winning the T20 series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand by 2-1 at home. In August 2023, India lost the 5-match series against the West Indies by 2-3.
At the end of 2023, India toured South Africa for a 3-match T20I series, levelling it 1-1. January 2024 set the ball rolling for India’s successful run in T20Is with the series win against Afghanistan 3-0.
In the 2024 T20 World Cup, the Men in Blue had an undefeated run, winning the silverware by defeating South Africa in the final.
Overall, India won 10 bilaterals, drew 2 series, and lost only 1 T20I series under Dravid’s tenure. Rahul Dravid signed off as India’s coach by lifting the T20 World Cup in 2024.
