When Rahul Dravid took charge as the head coach of the Indian cricket team, it was expected that the Men in Blue will end their ICC trophy drought besides winning other multi-nation tournaments and away tours.
However, the results haven’t been impressive in the 16 months so far. While India lost both the Test and ODI series in South Africa, they lost the rescheduled fifth Test against England at Edgbaston as well.
India also failed to qualify for the Asia Cup 2022 final and then faced a semi-final exit in the T20 World Cup Down Under.
Dravid has big shoes to fill considering the fact that he came in as a successor for Ravi Shastri, under whom India did reasonably well especially in overseas conditions. The team won the Test series in Australia (twice), Sri Lanka, West Indies. They were also leading the Test series 2-1 in England in 2021, before the final Test was postponed due to COVID-19 scare in the visiting camp.
While Dravid has a lot to do to reach the level of success his predecessor Shastri achieved, the latter himself has urged people to show more faith and be patient with the current coach.
"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 the contemporary cricketer players and with the system. Give him time," Shastri told Sports Tak on the sidelines of Legends League Cricket Masters.
Shastri claimed that people in India only care about winning trophies, only till the time they don't. He cited the example of India’s Asia Cup triumphs during his stint in 2016 and 2018 to validate his point.
"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 Asia Cup? We've won it twice. And no one talks about it. But when we lose in Asia Cup, then the tournament comes into the picture. Why? That's why I'm saying, the effort should always be there," he remarked.
"Everyone wants to win but what's important is to put your best foot forward. And see what happens. Sometimes you don't play your best cricket and still you'll win the game but you're going to have to be extremely lucky for that to win a World Cup. Very few teams win a World Cup by not playing well on that day. Very rare."
