Top takeaways from 'The Wall' Rahul Dravid's coaching stint

The Indian national cricket team has been one of the central pillars when it comes to revolutionising the cricketing world. Be it through their impeccable all-department management or cash-rich cricket board title; the team has always been at the helm of creating a significant impact on the sporting world. And with that said, the coaches have played an influential role in its development. Whether from Gary Kirsten or Ravi Shastri, the coaches have displayed their unique calibre through their different strategies. One such coach is Rahul Dravid; where his calm, cool and composed strategy, such as focusing on the basics and building a solid foundation, from his U-19 coaching days in producing talents have played a pivotal role in the men’s Indian cricket team.

For instance, his emphasis on discipline and technique has been instrumental in the team’s success. With his coaching stint ending after the T20 World Cup 2024, here we look at some of the memorable things the Indian Cricket team witnessed under the helm of “The Wall” as a coach.

1. Dravid building a gateway for young and emerging players from the U-19 days

After his illustrious cricket career, Rahul Dravid has introduced new talent to the cricket world and instilled a sense of belief and confidence in these young players. His guidance led a new batch of Under-19 players to victory in the ICC U-19 World Cup in New Zealand in 2018.

The emotional impact of his coaching is evident in the recent performances of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan, and Dhruv Jurel, who have been outstanding in the recent bilateral matchups. For instance, Jaiswal’s consistent batting and Khan’s exceptional fielding skills are a direct result of Dravid’s coaching. These immediate results are a testament to Dravid’s coaching prowess and the bright future he has assured for the team.

2. Kohli to Rohit: A rugged transition terrain handled effectively

During the initial days of his coaching stint, he witnessed almost turmoil. After being given the coaching baron from Ravi Shastri to Rahul Dravid, the all-time inform Indian batter, Virat Kohli wasn’t in his best form in the sport. Because of that, he decided to give up his captaincy position in all the game formats. This has stirred up massive criticism amongst critics and some fanatics, mainly linking to baseless Rahul Dravid’s coaching bias.

However, as the ‘Wall’ mindset suggests, he has managed this transition efficiently and effectively. Even with the criticism coming its way, it marked the start of the Rohit-Dravid era, which made many unaware of the performance successes that would be seen with this combi.

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3. A path from rock bottom to up in T20Is

Many Indian cricket fanatics would recollect the forgettable 2021 T20 World Cup, where the team couldn’t qualify for the semifinals. Their performance implied the opposite outcome based on the team’s high calibre. But, Rahul Dravid taking up the weight of a coach has created an impeccable impact for the team in the shortest format of the game. Under his coaching, India won 14 of the 17 bilateral series in this time frame, including important victories in England and New Zealand (2022) and at home against Australia in 2023.

Not to forget their incredible performance in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, which included a nail-biting finish by Virat Kohli against Pakistan when he hit two virtually impossible sixes off Haris Rauf. This ushered in a new and consistent age for India in the shortest possible time.

Unfortunately, they couldn’t win the 2022 T20 World Cup after losing to England by ten wickets in the semifinal. However, with the ongoing 2024 edition, they would be against the English side again. It will be an exciting watch as the Indian side hasn’t yet lost a single game in the tournament stage, implying that Dravid’s strategy and game are creating an impact. Currently, India is the No.1 cricket team in the T20I formats, another prime evidence of Dravid’s coaching aftermath.  

Also Read: 3 memorable wins from Kane Williamson’s captaincy stint for New Zealand

4. An undisputed run in the Test cricket format

India is the world’s second-best Test cricket side, trailing only Australia. They have won 14 and lost 7 of their 24 red-ball cricket matches during the Rahul Dravid period. More importantly, they have won six series, including decisive home victories against Australia and England. However, there have been a few disappointments. They squandered two chances to win their first series in South Africa (2021 and 2023), then they lost again in the World Test Championship final, this time to Australia, in 2023. 

But, this test team under Dravid’s radar has helped crack the complex codes of BazBall, England’s winning formula in the red-ball. In the recent home test series against them, they whitewashed the visitors 4-1, thanks to the likes of emerging players’ performance, who have been supervised by the man himself, Rahul Dravid.

5. The same story but a different version, the ODI format

As mentioned earlier, Rahul Dravid’s immaculate coaching bolstered India’s progress in the T20Is and Test, and the same applies to the ODI format. During the 2020-21 period, the team has seen an unpleasant decline in the 50-over format performance. With their leading players not unleashing their X-factor and time not favouring them, it was a forgettable timeline for this fan-favourite team.

But it all started with the Dravid-Rohit collaboration in one-day internationals, which began with a home series against the West Indies in February 2022. India trounced the visitors 3-0 and was again on the rise. In 2022, they overcame World Cup champions England on their grounds and were nearly unbeatable at home.

India won 10 of the 13 bilateral ODI series they played under the Dravid-Rohit timeline and had an impressive win-loss ratio of 3.4 in the format during their tenure, winning 41 of the 56 ODIs. For comparison, Australia was the next best with a win-loss record of two. As it suggests, the Indian team proudly holds the first rank in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings.

6. A memorable sheer dominance in the ICC CWC 2023

Rahul Dravid’s coaching has consistently propelled the Indian team to the final stages of various tournaments. One such would be the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup in India. The team’s flawless 100 percent win record on the tournament’s league stage is the prime example of Dravid’s influence on the team’s performance.

Be it the agile fielding, swashbuckling batting, or reliable bowling, the team was having a dream run and was everyone’s favourite to win the tournament. But time had another plan, and Australia got their sixth CWC title. However, after the tournament, the team and the coaching staff have garnered much praise and appreciation for their consistent and resilient performances.

7. Homecoming of the cup after 11 years

After a tremendous play by India & maintaining the 100 percent win record, the team has infinite reasons to smile, as an ICC event cup returns home after a long hiatus of 11 years. From Virat Kohli’s impeccable final T20 clutch innings of his career to Jasprit Bumrah not giving any chance for the batters to score a boundary & winning the Player of the Series, this team has seen it all during the T20 World Cup 2024, in terms of all-rounding cricketing display.

And of course, a huge chunk of credit would be given to Mr. Coach, Rahul Dravid. After a long haul of ending on a high note by just being the runners-up, the team has finally seen success with an ICC trophy after 11 years. The Wall has seen it all, as a defensive yet impactful player and a T20 World Cup-winning coach, Rahul Dravid has found an impeccable way to end his remarkable coaching stint.

Just like how Rahul Dravid was pivotal for the team during his period of the game, he has displayed the same intent, dedication, and calibre as a form of a coach. From the triumphant 2018 U-19 Cricket World Cup to the ongoing unbeaten India streak in the 2024 T20 World Cup, Rahul Dravid has had it all in his coaching stint. Though he might have won just a handful of tournaments like the 2023 Asia Cup, his gameplan, strategy and composed thought process have helped the team unleash the best. Overall, he helped the team achieve success and also gave the team the ability to keep it consistent for a long period.