Ravi Shastri's India were on a roll during 2021, England were in different situation: India coach Rahul Dravid
India Today
Under then head coach Ravi Shastri and captain Virat Kohli, India were in a commanding position, 2-1 against England ahead of the rescheduled 5th Test. However, under new coach Rahul Dravid, India lost the 5th Test as England beat India and squared the series 2-2.
India head coach Rahul Dravid pointed out the differences between then chief coach Ravi Shastri's team and England during the 2021 tour, saying India were on a roll at that stage while England were in a different situation.
Shastri and then captain Virat Kohli had taken India to a commanding position, leading the five-match series 2-1 against England ahead of the fifth Test. However, under new coach Dravid, India lost the rescheduled fifth Test as England beat the visitors by seven wickets and squared the series 2-2.
When asked where India and England stood during the 2021 tour, Dravid said: "India was on a roll at that stage. England were probably in a slightly different situation at that point of time, when that series was on.
Under the current head coach Dravid, India have seen four captains - Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah - in the longest format this year. India, captained by Kohli and Rahul, lost the away Test series against South Africa earlier this year.
"They (England) have come here at the back of three consecutive wins against New Zealand. We (India) have had a long gap in between Test cricket, but you know, no excuses," Dravid said in the press conference.
In the fifth Test, Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja helped India recover from an early collapse in their first innings. On the back of their centuries, India took a lead of 132 runs, but failed to build on it. The visitors were able to add only 245 runs in their second innings and set a 378-run target.
In reply, England took the aggressive route, with Alex Lees and Zak Crawley stitching a 107-run opening partnership before Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow took the team to 259/3 at stumps on Day 4. With only 119 runs needed, Root (142*) and Bairstow (114*) gunned down the target in the first session of Day 5 as India failed to break their 269-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
