The upcoming four-match Test series between India and Australia starting on February 9 will be a great opportunity for head coach Rahul Dravid to prove his mantle, especially after India’s flop show in major tournaments like Asia Cup and T20 World Cup. The Blues are yet to win an ICC trophy since the 2011 World Cup. Many expected team India’s fortune to turn overnight when Dravid, one of the most respected cricketers of all time, was appointed as India head coach in November 2021. Unfortunately, the case has been quite the opposite.

Meanwhile, Dravid’s former teammate and ex-BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly was asked to comment on his friend’s performance as coach.

“He has done very well except for the T20 World Cup. The team still went to the semifinals and was just one match away from the final. He will do well. You have to give him time, he has just had one year. It’s too short a time for a coach. He will turn this team around. You can see Shubman Gill emerging as a very good batter and you will see a few others develop as well. There’s Surya (Suryakumar Yadav), who has done well in the shorter format. So, you have to give some time to Rahul. He will do well,” Ganguly told Sportstar.

Ganguly also commented how not only cricket but every sport has evolved over the years.

“Cricket has changed tremendously over the years. Not just cricket, every sport has changed. Cricket financially has become sound. Even the quality has improved. I never knew quality and finance could go hand in hand. The great Sunil Gavaskar would bat against the West Indies greats without wearing a helmet,” he said.

“Now India goes so many times a year to countries like Australia, South Africa and England. Look at the Australian team. They are not even playing a warmup match before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. This is because they are familiar with the Indian pitches. During my time, I used to go to Australia once in 7-8 years.”