5 biggest losses for India under Ravi Shastri’s tenure as the Team Director

After much anticipation and speculation, Ravi Shastri on Tuesday was appointed as the head coach of the Indian cricket team until the 2019 ICC World Cup to be held in England. However, this is not the first time that Shastri has been at the helm of the Indian cricket team.

The 55-year-old served as the Director of the team from 2014-16 before Anil Kumble was appointed as the head coach. Shastri brings along with him a wealth of experience, both as a cricketer and a coach, and his first major assignment will be the tour to Sri Lanka scheduled for the end of July.

Also, Zaheer Khan was appointed as the bowling coach of Team India and Rahul Dravid as the batting consultant for overseas tours. As Shastri prepares himself for the new challenge ahead, let us take a look at the lows of his tenure as the team director.

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#1 2015 World Cup semi-final

India’s unbeaten streak in the 2015 World Cup was ended by Australia

Hopes were high from the team that vowed to not give back the trophy from the 2011 ODI World Cup in the 2015 edition. India looked as one of the hot favourites for the title; they remained unbeaten in the tournament until the semi-final against the mighty Australians, also the hosts of the tournament.

The home side knocked India out of the tournament with a 95-run win at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Batting first, the hosts put up 328 on the board, and in reply, India were bundled out for 233 in 46.5 overs. Apart from MS Dhoni and Shikhar Dhawan, nobody could muster runs in the chase and India had to return home without reclaiming the trophy they had won after 28 years at the Wankhede in 2011.

#2 2016 T20 World Cup semi-final

A dejected Virat Kohli after the shocking defeat

Though India, the hosts of the tournament, could not kickstart their campaign on a high note, with the Black Caps getting the better of them in the opening game, the remainder of the tournament suggested their chances of being one of the finalists.

India beat Pakistan, Bangladesh and Australia to reach the semi-finals where the T20 specialists West Indies awaited them. However, the short boundary and flat pitch at Mumbai’s Wankhede favoured the eventual winners.

Batting first, India put up a not-so-challenging 192 on the board which the opponents chased down in 19.4 overs to reach the finals and also eventually lift the trophy.

#3 India’s tour of England 2014-15

Kohli had a torrid time in England

India toured England in 2014 to play five Tests, five One-Day Internationals and a solitary T20. While they won the ODI series 3-1, the men-in-blue managed to win only one of the five Tests and lost the only T20 as well.

The first Test at Nottingham was a draw and India won the second Test at Lord’s by 95 runs. But thereon, they lost all the remaining three Tests by 266 runs, an innings and 54 runs, and 244 runs respectively.

“The support staff and the think tank really let down the team very badly. I hope the BCCI sacks them immediately unless they go once again by what the senior players in the team feel about them,” Dilip Vengsarkar was quoted as saying after the humiliating 1-3 series defeat.

#4 India’s tour of Australia in 2014-15

MS Dhoni announced his sudden retirement from Tests during this series

India toured Australia in 2014 to play four Tests in the Border-Gavaskar series, of which they won none. While the first two Tests at Adelaide and Brisbane were won by the hosts, by 48 runs and 4 wickets respectively, the remaining two at Melbourne and Sydney were a hard fought draw.

It was during this series that Mahendra Singh Dhoni, following the draw in the third Test, had announced his shocking retirement from whites. The fourth and final Test was thus led by the new captain Virat Kohli, who had also captained the team in the first Test of the series when Dhoni was injured.

Under the young captain, India played a fiery brand of cricket, but didn’t manage to win any matches. The Indian bowlers copped severe criticism during this series.

#5 India’s tour of Bangladesh 2015

India’s maiden series lost against Bangladesh came under Shastri’s tenure

India visited neighbours Bangladesh to play 3 ODIs and a solitary Test in June 2015. While the one-off Test was drawn, India lost the ODI series 1-2. The visitors were outmatched in all departments in the first two games.

The hosts, who had completely revamped their ODI credentials since their quarter-final finish in World Cup 2015, proved very threatening for an otherwise solid composition of players in the Indian team. It was the bowlers who completely failed to put up a disciplined performance in the first ODI and in the second one, the batsmen were a complete letdown.

This was also India’s maiden series loss against the Tigers.