On his last and final match as the head coach of the Indian cricket team, Ravi Shastri has expressed his views on former Indian cricketer and legendary batsman Rahul Dravid, who will take over the team as India’s next head coach following the conclusion of the tournament.
Ravi Shastri has commented on his successor Rahul Dravid while speaking during the toss of India vs Namibia, which is India’s last league match in the ongoing edition of the tournament, on Monday.
Out of 10, how would you rate Ravi Shastri’s performance as India’s head coach? ?
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) November 8, 2021
During the toss, Ravi Shastri asserted that his journey with the Indian cricket team has been fantastic and lauded the Men in Blue for overcoming obstacles all around the world in the last 5 years under the captaincy of Virat Kohli, who also played his last match as India’s T20 Captain.
“It (journey) has been fantastic. When I took this job, I said in my mind I want to make a difference and I think I have. Sometimes in life, it’s not all about what you accomplish, it’s what you overcome. And what these guys have overcome over the last five years, the way they have travelled across the globe and performed in every part of the globe in all formats of the game will make this – irrespective of what’s happened here – as one of the great teams in the history of the game. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind. It’s unfortunate that we are out of this tournament but that takes nothing away from a great side.”
When asked about his high points during his tenure, Shastri said: “Across all formats there are plenty. But winning in red-ball cricket across the globe – West Indies, Sri Lanka, Australia, England we are leading the series. It could be the longest lead in the history of cricket because the next Test is next year. To go across and beat all these sides every team in white-ball cricket – T20 or 50 over – we have beaten sides in their den which was my endeavour and team’s endeavour. We were always labelled as big bullies at home, but when you had to travel outside you didn’t have the goods. But this team has shown they have more and plenty of that,”
Further, Shastri also said how Rahul Dravid has inherited a great team and he believes he can only raise the bat in the time to come. He said:
“In Rahul Dravid, they’ve got a guy who has inherited a great team and I think with his experience, he can only raise the bar in time to come. There are still players here who will play for another 3-4 years which is very important. It is not a team in transition and that’ll make the biggest difference”.
“It’s not a team in transition overnight and that will make the biggest difference. Virat is still there, he has done a fantastic job as the leader of the side. In fact, he has been one of the best ambassadors for Test match cricket over the last five years.
Earlier this week, Rahul Dravid was appointed as the Head Coach of Team India (Senior Men) by the Cricket Advisory Committee comprising Ms. Sulakshana Naik and Mr. RP Singh on Wednesday. Rahul Dravid will take over the new role and will begin his tenure as India’s full-time coach from the upcoming home series against New Zealand starting November 17.
“The Cricket Advisory Committee comprising Ms. Sulakshana Naik and Mr. RP Singh on Wednesday unanimously appointed Mr. Rahul Dravid as the Head Coach of Team India (Senior Men). The former India captain will take charge from the upcoming home series against New Zealand,” a release sent out by the BCCI read.
