Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has thrown his support behind his successor Rahul Dravid. India’s performance under Dravid has not really been very impressive and the recent defeat against Australia has once again made the critics sharpening their knives.
Dravid replaced Ravi Shastri as India’s head coach after the T20 World Cup in 2021. His appointment was welcomed by one and all as the Indian cricket fraternity hoped that the legendary batsman would finally help India win an ICC trophy.
Dravid, however, has failed to do it so far. Not only that, India have also struggled in bilateral series too. At the start of 2022, Team India lost the Test and ODI series in South Africa before losing the rescheduled Test in England. India were leading the series 2-1 in 2021 when Ravi Shastri was in charge before losing the fifth one in 2022.
It was followed by the disappointing results in the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup. India failed to make it to the final of both the events. India also lost the ODI series in Bangladesh. Recently, the Rohit Sharma-led side lost the third Test against Australia at home in just over two days before drawing the fourth one.
In the ongoing ODI series too, India’s performance has been really unimpressive. In the series-opener, the Men in Blue were reeling at 83 for 5 while chasing a modest 188 although they went on to win the match. In the second game, Australia bowled them out for a paltry 117 before chasing down the total in just 11 overs without losing any wicket.
Ravi Shastri defends Rahul Dravid:
While Dravid is facing criticism, Ravi Shastri has leapt in his defence and has said that the current Indian coach should be given more time before judgment is passed on his stint.
“It takes time. It took me time and it’s going to take him time too. But Rahul has an advantage that he was at the NCA, he was with the A team as well and now he’s here too. He is experienced with contemporary cricketer players and with the system. Give him time,” Ravi Shastri said in an interview with Sports Tak.
“In our country, public memory is short. If you have to win, you have to win. During my tenure, we won two Asia Cups, but no one remembers. Has anyone mentioned the Asia Cup? We’ve won it twice. And no one talks about it. But when we lose in the Asia Cup, then the tournament comes into the picture. Why?” he added.
Dravid’s contract is set to expire after the 2023 ODI World Cup. His extension will mainly depend on how the team performs in the marquee event. Any result apart from a win is unlikely to see Dravid getting an extension as India’s head coach.
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