‘The big thing lacking is..’ - Kapil Dev shares ‘report card’ of Virat Kohli-Ravi Shastri era in Indian cricket

The Virat Kohli-Ravi Shastri era has come to an end in Indian cricket with the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2021. While Shastri has handed over the reins to new head coach Rahul Dravid, Kohli is more India’s T20I captain with Rohit Sharma replacing him. Meanwhile, Kohli and Shastri had joined forces as captain and coach since 2017 for four years, during which Indian cricket achieved phenomenal success.

While the Men in Blue clinched several white-ball series both in home and overseas, the side won as many as two Test series on Australian soil. However, one significant box which remained unchecked was India not winning an ICC title in this period. Under head coach Shastri, India featured three ICC events – the 2019 World Cup, World Test Championship, and the recently-concluded T20 World Cup 2021 – but couldn’t get glory once.

Meanwhile, Former Indian captain Kapil Dev has presented a report card, summarizing Team India’s performance under Shastri. Although Kapil pointed out that the national team has done a phenomenal job, he asserted the absence of an ICC title is something that makes Shastri and Kohli’s tenure incomplete.

I think both Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli have done a brilliant job: Kapil Dev

Speaking of Team India’s early exit in the T20 World Cup 2021, Kapil admitted that this was the first time since the 2007 ODI World Cup, that India returned with such a poor show.

“I think both have done a superb job. I understand that they could not win India a major trophy but if we look at the last five years, since Kohli took over, there has been nothing lacking. The big thing lacking is an ICC trophy. Apart from that, India have won in Australia, England… wherever they have travelled, they have beaten the other team,” Kapil said in an interview with Uncut.

“Reaching the World Cup knockouts is also a huge deal. I think after the 2007 World Cup in West Indies, this T20 World Cup is where it felt that India were disappointing. Had they reached the top 4 and then lost, it is understandable. But if you don’t reach the top 4, there will be criticism,” he added.

Overall, Kapil Dev gave 90 percent to India’s performance. He deducted the 10 percent due to the lack of an ICC trophy. “If you look at it from a trophy point of view, that’s a different thing altogether. But if you look at their cricket, the brand they have played in the last five years, I would give them 90 percent marks out of 100, and deduct 10 percent marks for not winning an ICC Trophy,” asserted the former all-rounder.