Ravi Shastri's report card

As India makes an early exit from the 2021 T20 World Cup, it marks the end of Ravi Shastri's four-year tenure as the head coach. In two successive stints of two years each, Shastri oversaw India's transition to a world beating unit in Test cricket and while he may not have an ICC trophy to show for it, under his regime India grew from strength to strength as a formidable white-ball side, reaching the semifinals of World Cup in 2019 and staying in the top three in ICC rankings for the most part of his tenure.

Here's a detailed look into what his seminal contributions were to the Indian side, who all prospered and who all withered away, and what is the legacy that he leaves this team with:

Note: Ravi Shastri's stats as coach is considered only from when he took over as the head coach in July 2017

India under Shastri

While most of the boards looked to cash in on the T20 bandwagon - thanks in no small to measure to the board's hefty financial muscle - Shastri and skipper Virat Kohli focused primarily on India's growth in Test cricket, especially winning overseas and results are there to see. The last four years saw an unprecedented success for India in the format, becoming an unbeatable monster in the sub-continent and the Caribbean and a force to reckon everywhere else. Under Shastri, India won series in Sri Lanka, West Indies, Australia (twice) and have a 2-1 series lead in England in addition to topping the table in the first iteration of World Test Championship where they eventually finished as runners up.

It was not just the wins but the manner in which they won several of these assignments' underscores India's dominance. India whitewashed Sri Lanka 3-0 in 2017 and West Indies 2-0 in 2019 in away tours. Against a full-strength Australia team in 2020/21, they came from behind a pounding in the opening Test to win the series 2-1 with several of their first-choice players unavailable at various points down the line. At home, India won 12 of the 15 Tests with a solitary defeat, winning all six series in this period.

After John Wright became India's maiden overseas coach in 2000, no other coach enjoyed a more fruitful reign in Tests as much Shastri, apart from Anil Kumble, who was at the helm for only a short period. Under no other coach did India win more Tests overseas with series wins in Sri Lanka and West Indies almost being taken for granted at this point.

India in Tests since Wright era

India in overseas Tests since Wright era

The biggest imprint that Shastri has left on this team is the emergence of an all-round bowling attack capable of winning Tests in any conditions, inarguably the greatest India had at point of time in their history. Under Shastri and bowling coach Bharat Arun, the pace attack transformed to a well-oiled unit both home and away. Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav all turned their career around and enjoyed the most productive phase of their career under Shastri. Ishant stepped from a holding bowler to the pace spearhead while Shami enjoyed a largely injury free spell in the second half of his career.

Before Shastri as coach

Under Shastri as coach

The pacers were not just at the forefront of India's overseas wins but also led the charge in home Tests. In his first home Test in charge, India's seamers picked all 17 Sri Lankan wickets to fall - the