Team India coach: Rahul Dravid’s biggest coaching career achievements – Former Indian captain Rahul Dravid is all set to take over the reins from the outgoing Ravi Shastri and become the next Team India coach. Shastri’s tenure ends after the T20 World Cup, and Dravid is primed to take over, having ventured into coaching ever since retiring from the game completely in 2013. While there has been no official word on the same, sources have indicated that “The Wall” will take over starting with the series against New Zealand at home.
Here, Insidesport.in looks at the major achievements of Rahul Dravid’s coaching career.
Team India coach: 4 biggest achievements of Rahul Dravid in his coaching career
1. Stint with Rajasthan Royals
Rahul Dravid joined Rajasthan Royals backroom staff soon after calling time on his playing career. In his first season, the Royals agonisingly missed out on the IPL playoffs by the best of margins, with Aditya Tare hitting a six to knock out RR. The following Rajasthan exceeded expectations with a third-place finish, despite boasting of a modest squad at disposal.
2. U-19 World Cup
Rahul Dravid led India in two U-19 World Cup campaigns, reaching the final in both editions of the tournament. In 2016, a team consisting of future Indian international Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan and Washington reached the final, only to lose out to the West Indies. Two years later, a team comprising of Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw and Riyan Parag won the title, beating Australia.
Team India coach: 4 biggest achievements of Rahul Dravid in his coaching career
3. Sri Lanka tour
Rahul Dravid was appointed coach of the second string Indian side which toured Sri Lanka in August. The team comprising of youngsters with very limited international experience, brushed raise the hosts to clinch the ODI series 5-0. The men in Blue were on course to win the T20I series as well, but a COVID-19 outbreak meant that India lost many of their key players to isolation and succumbed to a 2-1 defeat.
4. Grooming young talent
During his time as India U-19 and A team coach and the NCA, Rahul Dravid has had an eye for talent and a host of youngsters under his tutelage have made it to the Indian team. The likes of Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan have all played under him during their U-19 days, while the likes of Hanuma Vihari, Mayank Agarwal, Mohammed Siraj, Shreyas Iyer can vouch for Dravid’s inputs during the A tours. The former Indian captain has raised the bar high, which ultimately helped India win the Border Gavaskar trophy late last year despite missing a host of regular first-team players.
