Rahul Dravid, revered as one of India’s cricketing legends, embarked on a new journey in his illustrious career, taking the helm as a coach for various Indian cricket teams. His tenure has been marked by an exceptional blend of mentorship, astute guidance, and a profound impact on nurturing young talent.
Appointed as the Head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in 2019, Dravid’s first role in coaching involved the development of emerging talent. His meticulous approach towards grooming youngsters laid a strong foundation, focusing not only on their cricketing skills but also on their mental and emotional aspects.
Dravid’s emphasis on discipline, work ethics, and mental resilience has been a cornerstone of his coaching philosophy. Under his guidance, several promising players, such as Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw, and Rishabh Pant, honed their skills, transitioning seamlessly into the national team.
His leadership extended beyond the NCA, as Dravid took charge of coaching the Indian Under-19 team, leading them to numerous victories, including the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in 2020. His knack for identifying talent and nurturing their potential was evident in the young squad’s remarkable performances on the global stage.
Since taking over the Indian senior team’s coaching responsibility in November 2021, Dravid has been touted as the man who will bring India’s long and excruciating wait for an ICC title to an end. But, that hasn’t quite been the case.
Dravid started on a promising note, as the Indian team defeated New Zealand 3-0 in a T20I series in 2021. It was Dravid’s first series as the full-time head coach of the Indian team. But, the legendary batter hasn’t managed to deliver on the promise on a consistent basis. Let’s dvel into the major issues faced by Team India since Rahul Dravid has taken the role of a head coach.
Underperformance in major tournaments
One of the significant criticisms during Dravid’s coaching tenure has been the team’s inability to secure ICC tournament victories. Despite consistent performances in bilateral series, India faced challenges in key ICC events, leading to questions about their ability to perform under pressure in such high-stakes tournaments.
Under Dravid, India till now has participated in three ICC events – T20 World Cup 2022, World Test Championship final and the just concluded 50 overs World Cup 2023 — and failed to bring the trophy home in all three of them.
Issues with Tournament strategy
Criticism arose regarding India’s approach and strategy in crucial tournament matches. Tactical decisions, team selections, and on-field strategies came under scrutiny, especially during knockout matches, where the team seemed to falter.
Inadequate Adaptability in Foreign Conditions
Another point of criticism was the team’s struggle to perform consistently in overseas conditions, particularly in Test cricket. While there were sporadic successes, the inability to consistently dominate in challenging conditions abroad raised concerns about the team’s adaptability and preparedness. Many hopes were pinned on India winning the Test series in South Africa for the very first time when they toured the African nation in the last quarter of the year, but the team’s inconsistency came to the fore once again when Team India lost the 1st match of the series only to come back and winning the 2nd Test match of a 2 match series.
Management of Players Workload and Selection Policies
Criticism emerged regarding the management of players workload, especially in the context of players burnout and injuries. Balancing players’ participation across formats and providing adequate rest periods became a topic of debate during Dravid’s coaching tenure.
Some have questioned the selection policies and squad rotations, suggesting that certain decisions lacked consistency or logic, impacting team composition and stability in various formats.
Conclusion
Rahul Dravid’s ongoing tenure as the head coach of Team India has witnessed several challenges and criticisms despite its many strengths.
While acknowledging his contributions to player development and fostering a positive team culture, the above points sheds light to the areas needing improvement and reflect the complexities and demands of coaching a top-tier cricketing nation.
