Here’s how India’s head coaches have fared in home Tests since 2000/01

Since the turn of the millennium, India Cricket has witnessed a spectrum of head coaches, each bringing a unique vision and tactical approach to the national team Test team. Test cricket on home soil has traditionally been India’s forte – where great teams are produced, strategies are tested and their glories and glories are both forged and shattered. In Test matches since the 2000/01 season, the performance of Indian coaches in Test matches has written a compelling story of tactical brilliance, consistency and sometimes, in an unexpected way, the unexpected.

Gautam Gambhir’s struggles in Tests highlight the home wagons

Introduction Gautam Gambhir India’s head coach in Test cricket has been greeted with much anticipation given his gritty former opener and his no-nonsense approach to the game. However, Gambhir’s start to his role has been hampered by his inability to register home dominance under the team’s leadership. Out of 9 test matches at home, Gambhir’s India have lost 5 of them, a disappointing win/loss ratio, the lowest for any Indian coach at home in this period. In addition, his tenure has already seen 2 home run losses – a no-hitter by any manager that has not been hit by any other coach-2000/01.

India’s usually precarious home advantage came under severe strain during Gambhir’s stint. Innocuous performances, questions about team formations and inconsistent batting all contributed to the worrisome final results. Unlike his predecessors who managed to preserve or extend India’s legacy on spinning tracks and batsman-friendly surfaces, Gambhir’s tactical approaches and choices have not translated into expected wins. India’s home Test losses under his leadership align with the urgent need for a repeat if India are to regain the stoicism of a legendary home.

Read: Criticism of Sunil Gavaskar, Gautam Gambhir India’s home Test Whitewash vs South Africa

All-round record of Indian coaches at home since 2000/01

A closer inspection of the home records of India’s head coaches since the 2000/01 season reveals a picture of stability and high win percentages in general – until the present scenario. John Wrightthe first foreign technical director, 11 wins from 24 matches, 11 wins from 24 matches, a win ratio of 2.75. Greg Chappell‘s eventful period of 6 matches, 3 wins and no series losses.

Gary Kirsten and Duncan Fletcher Eras set a gold standard; Kirsten posted 10 wins and fared better (11 wins, 2 losses, 5.50 ratio) in 19 home tests (w/l ratio 5.00), although each was a single series defeat. Ravi Shastri Among the best in 19 matches with a phenomenal win / loss ratio is Revolutionary Construction, 15 wins, with only one loss in 19 matches. Anil KumbulHis abbreviated but effective tenure ended with 10 wins from 13 matches (W/L ratio 10.00), India’s dominant streak with no series defeats.

Rahul Dravid Home Fort kept safe, 9 wins out of 9 and a series of losses, maintaining a positive record. Gambhir’s comparisons with all his predecessors, with lower winning streaks and repeated home series losses, are rarely harsher in modern Indian Test cricket.

The list below captures the performance at a glance:

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