India's head coach Rahul Dravid capped off his tenure with a fairytale ending, guiding the team to victory in the T20 World Cup 2024, marking a pinnacle in Indian cricket history. India defeated South Africa by 7 runs in the T20 World Cup 2024 final to lift end their ICC trophy drought and lift the trophy. Under Dravid's leadership, the Men in Blue dominated bilateral limited-over series both at home and abroad. They also reached the finals of two prestigious world events – the World Test Championship and the 50-over World Cup, both in 2023. After a disappointing exit from the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE, India, under the new captaincy of Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid, adopted an aggressive batting strategy. Their goal was clear – to overhaul their approach and compete consistently with teams like England and Australia in global tournaments. This strategy focused on capitalizing on powerplay fielding restrictions with calculated risks and maximizing runs rather than conserving wickets.
The transformation began with a commanding 3-0 series win against New Zealand at home, where Rohit Sharma led from the front with a blistering 81 off 45 deliveries in the powerplay. This victory marked the dawn of a new era in Indian cricket. Under Dravid and Rohit's stewardship, India's T20I run-rate during the powerplay surged from 7.5 (up to the end of the 2021 T20 World Cup) to 8.5 between the two T20 World Cups. This momentum continued into subsequent tournaments, including a semi-final appearance in Australia in 2022 and maintaining an average run-rate of 8.5 in 2023.
Domination in T20I Cricket
India's supremacy in T20I cricket stands unrivaled, underscoring a strong correlation between their high run-rate in the initial 6 overs and their resounding success. Since their pivotal bilateral series against New Zealand in November 2021, India has clinched victory in 48 out of 69 matches in this format. With a commanding win percentage and an impressive win-loss ratio of 2.82, they indisputably reign as the top-ranked team in ICC T20I rankings. Australia trails behind with a win-loss ratio of 1.75, highlighting India's significant lead.
During this period, India has triumphed in 14 out of 17 bilateral series, securing notable wins in England, New Zealand (2022), and Australia (2023).
However, the setback of losing to England in the 2022 World Cup semi-finals remains a notable blotch in India's otherwise stellar T20I record under Dravid.
Similar Success in ODIs
India's ODI journey saw a downturn from early 2020 until the South Africa series in early 2022, where they suffered a 3-0 defeat. During this phase, they lost 11 out of 18 matches.
The partnership of Dravid and Rohit Sharma in ODIs kicked off with a resounding 3-0 victory against the West Indies in February 2022, signaling a resurgence. They went on to defeat reigning World Cup champions England on their home turf in 2022 and displayed dominance on home soil. Under Dravid and Rohit's leadership, India won 10 out of 13 bilateral ODI series, boasting an exceptional win-loss ratio of 3.4. They clinched victory in 41 out of 56 ODIs during this tenure, far surpassing Australia's win-loss ratio of 2, highlighting their commanding performance.
Despite the final outcome, the 2023 50-over World Cup showcased India's aggressive approach in white-ball cricket, facing its toughest challenge on home soil. Rohit Sharma emerged as a standout performer, amassing 597 runs at an impressive strike rate of 125.9, setting the stage for India's dominance in the tournament's early overs. While Kohli scored more runs overall, Rohit's contributions in the powerplay were pivotal.
India's performance was nothing short of historic, characterized by overwhelming victories with both bat and ball. They posted three scores exceeding 350, including a staggering 410 against the Netherlands, and secured four wins by chasing down targets with over 6 wickets in hand. Additionally, they clinched three victories by massive margins ranging from 160 to 302 runs when batting first. This dominance surpassed even the legendary West Indian teams of 1975 and 1979 in terms of sheer demolition of opposition bowling attacks. Despite their loss in the final to Australia, India's approach and gameplay throughout the tournament left an indelible mark, delighting cricket enthusiasts worldwide. The foundation of this remarkable achievement and spectacle can be attributed to the strategic vision and tactics devised by the duo of Dravid and Rohit.
India, under Dravid's stewardship, has emerged as the world's second-best Test cricket team after Australia. Out of 24 red-ball matches played during this period, they have triumphed in 14 and suffered defeat in 7. Notably, they clinched six series victories, including significant wins at home against Australia and England. However, there were missed opportunities, such as failing to secure their maiden series win in South Africa in 2021 and 2023, and losing in the final of the 2023 World Test Championship to Australia. Dravid's tenure marks one of India's most successful periods in cricketing history. Their dominance in bilateral limited-overs series has propelled them to the number one spot in both ODI and T20I rankings. In Test cricket, they closely trail Australia, holding the second position globally. India's impressive record includes reaching two finals and one semi-final in ICC world events during this timeframe. While such achievements would be exceptional for any coach in any country, the expectations in India are even higher. The T20 World Cup 2024 triumph in Caribbean have not only broken an 11-year drought but also serves as a fitting culmination to Coach Dravid's legacy.
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