IND vs SA: Rahul Dravid's last match as India head coach, was his record better than Ravi Shastri?

The moment is here, after years of heartbreak India is all set to face South Africa in the final of T20 World Cup 2024 at Kensington Oval, Barbados.  

As India gears up and hopes to win its first World Cup crown since 2011 and first ICC trophy since 2013, it will also mark the final match under the leadership of head coach Rahul Dravid. Rahul Dravid failed to win a world cup as a player and as a coach he will want to sign off in his final assignment by giving the country the trophy it has waited for in years.  

Also Read | IND vs SA, T20 WC Final Live

Rahul Dravid's tenure as India Coach

Rahul Dravid took over as the coach of Indian Cricket Team back in 2021 after a failed T20 World Cup 2021 campaign. He took over from the home series against New Zealand and since then has been instrumental in changing India's approach in T20Is, ODI and tests. 

• Rahul Dravid's Test record as coach - Under Rahul Dravid, Team India played 24 tests in nearly 3 years and have won 14 of these encounters and lost 7. India's record in tests under Rahul Dravid is only bested by Australia.  
• Rahul Dravid's ODI record as coach - Under Rahul Dravid, India has played 13 bilateral ODI series and won 10 of them. Under Dravid and Rohit, India won 41 out of the 56 ODI matches played. 
• Rahul Dravid's T20I record as coach - Rahul Dravid and Rohit sharma revitalised India's approach in T20 cricket. Under Dravid, India won 55 out of the 77 T20I matches played. 

Also Read | India vs South Africa T20 World Cup 2024 final: Head-to-head battle

The wait for ICC trophy Continues

Despite all of India's dominance in world cricket, until now Rahul Dravid has failed to bring India an ICC trophy be it the ICC ODI World Cup, ICC T20 World Cup or ICC World Test Championship.

Under Rahul Dravid India has been to 4 ICC tournaments. The T20 World Cup 2022 where India lost to England in semi finals, the ICC World Test Championship final 2023 where India lost to Australia in the final and the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 where India once again lost to Australia in the final. 

This will be his fourth and last appearance in his ICC event at the T20 World Cup 2024. And with India reaching the finals against South Africa, he has the chance to sign off as a world cup winner and bring his nation the trophy they have craved for so long. 

Comparing Rahul Dravid's record as Team India head coach with Ravi Shastri 

Rahul Dravid succeeded Ravi Shastri as the head coach of Team India. Ravi Shastri coached India for four years from 2017-2021 and in that period he made India one of the most formidable red ball sides. 

Ravi Shastri record as Team India head coach

• Tests: 43 matches, 25 wins
• ODIs: 76 matches, 51 wins
• T20Is: 65 matches, 42 wins 

Under Ravi Shastri India once again did exceedingly well in bilaterals but failed to win an ICC trophy. They took part in three ICC tournaments - the 2019 ODI World Cup where India lost to New Zealand in semi finals, the 2021 World Test Championship where India once again lost to New Zealand in the finals and the T20 World Cup 2021 where India were knocked out in the group stages.