ENG vs IND: Ravi Shastri's India Was On A Roll In 2021, England Was In A Different Position- Rahul Dravid
Published - 06 Jul 2022, 12:45 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:09 AM
Rahul Dravid, the head coach of India, emphasized the distinctions between the England team and the one led by former head coach Ravi Shastri during the 2021 tour, claiming that England was in a different position at the moment, and India was on a roll at the time.
Before the fifth Test, India enjoyed a dominating 2-1 series lead over England in the five-match series under Shastri and then-captain Virat Kohli. However, with England defeating the visitors by seven wickets to tie the series at 2-2, India lost the fifth Test under new coach Dravid.
India overcame an early loss in their first innings in the fifth Test with the aid of Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja. India gained 132 runs on the strength of their centuries, but they were unable to extend their lead. The visitors set a 378-run target but could only add 245 runs in their second innings.
As a response, England went for speed. Alex Lees and Zak Crawley put up a 107-run opening combination before Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow helped the team to 259/3 at day’s end. Root (142*) and Bairstow (114*), who needed just 119 runs to win, smashed the target in the first session of Day 5 as India failed to sever their 269-run fourth-wicket partnership.
‘India was on a roll at that moment’: Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid responded, “India was on a roll at that moment,” when asked how England and India were doing during the 2021 tour. When that series was airing, England was presumably in a little different circumstance.”
India has had four skippers in the longest format this year under the current head coach Dravid: Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah. Earlier this year, India’s away Test series against South Africa was lost under the leadership of Kohli and Rahul.
“They (England) have come here after three straight victories over New Zealand.” “We (India) have had a long gap between Tests, but there are no excuses,” Rahul Dravid said at a press conference.
England won the fifth Test at Edgbaston on Tuesday after defeating India by seven wickets and completing a record run chase.
Also Read: ENG vs IND: Rishabh Pant Is Doing Really Well In Test Cricket – Rahul Dravid
