Former Indian coach and skipper Rahul Dravid discussed his most challenging moment as head coach of the Men in Blue, pinpointing the series loss to South Africa during the 2021-22 season. Under Virat Kohli's leadership, India had a historic opportunity to conquer the Proteas on their home soil for the first time. Despite a commanding victory of 113 in the first Test at Centurion, the Men in Blue faltered as the Proteas rallied with two consecutive seven-wicket wins, securing a notable comeback victory. This series marked Virat's final stint as Test captain.
In an interview with Star Sports, Dravid reflected, "My lowest point would undoubtedly be the early South Africa Test series in my coaching tenure. We triumphed in the first Test in Centurion, yet faltered in the subsequent matches. It was a significant chance for us to clinch our first series win in South Africa. Unfortunately, key players like Rohit Sharma were absent due to injury." He noted that despite the absence of senior players, India held its ground but ultimately fell short as South Africa skillfully limited their scores and comfortably achieved their targets.
Dravid highlighted, "Rohit Sharma's injury and the absence of other senior players were significant. We were on the brink of victory in both the second and third Tests, especially in the third innings. We had the chance to set a competitive score and secure the win, but South Africa's performance in the fourth innings was commendable. This series loss stands out as my most disheartening moment in coaching, especially given our lead in the series."
Dravid's tenure as coach has been marked by notable achievements, including India's victory in the ICC T20 World Cup this year in June against South Africa in Barbados. Prior to this, India was the runner-up in the 50-over World Cup at home last year, following a ten-match winning streak, and also finished as runner-up in the ICC World Test Championship to Australia. Additionally, India claimed the 50-over Asia Cup last year.
