Dubai: India have had more good days than bad with the Ravi Shastri-Virat Kohli combination at the helm of affairs. The partnership will come to an end Monday with Ravi Shastri ending his tenure as head coach. Here’s a look at the major achievements of the ‘Jabariya Jodi’.
Border Gavaskar Trophy win (2018-19): Under the guidance of Shastri and the leadership of Kohli, India scripted history by becoming the first Asian team to beat Australia in a Test series in their own backyard.
Second successive Test series triumph in Australia (2020-21): Though Kohli was not around for the full duration of the tour, Shastri and his stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane guided the team admirably in the absence of the regular skipper, as India defeated Australia to clinch the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the second successive time.
World Test Championship final (2021): India made it to the final of the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship under the captaincy of Kohli and Shastri’s guidance. However, Virat Kohli & Co lost the final by eight wickets as New Zealand were crowned champions.
ODI World Cup semifinal (2019): India were the best team in the group stages of the 2019 ICC World Cup and had topped the points table. However, the Men in Blue faced a heartbreaking defeat against New Zealand in the semifinal to bow out of the tournament.
With the duo of Kohli and Shastri calling the shots, India took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series against England earlier this year before the rubber was suspended due to Covid-19 outbreak in the Indian camp.
Under Shastri’s watch, India won a T20I series in South Africa, New Zealand, England and Australia.
Shastri also oversaw a 3-0 whitewash of Sri Lanka in 2017, the first time they achieved such a feat.
India also inflicted a whitewash on West Indies in a Test series in the Caribbean for the first time.
During the time of Shastri and Kohli, India formed a potent pace bowling unit that shone in all conditions and against the best in the world.
42 months at the top of Test ranking: Under coach Shastri and skipper Kohli, the Indian team became a force to reckon with in Test cricket, holding on to the No.1 ranking in the world for 42 months from 2016 to 2020.
Shastri became the director of Indian cricket team in 2014 for a period of eight months from India’s tour of England till the 2015 World Cup.
Shastri was removed in 2016 but he was appointed the head coach of the Indian team July 13, 2017, reuniting with Kohli to forge a cracking partnership.