• Source:JND
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Former India head coach Rahul Dravid reflected on the low point of his coaching career when the Indian cricket team failed to win a Test series in South Africa. Notably, Dravid took charge as India's head coach in November 2021, just before the South Africa tour.

India started the tour successfully, winning the first Test at Centurion by 113 runs, and they were on the verge of winning their first series in South Africa. South Africa, on the other hand, staged a miraculous comeback, winning the last two matches and maintaining their unbeaten home record against India.

“If you ask me what is the lowest point, I would say that the South Africa Test series early on in my career. We won the first Test match in South Africa in Centurion, and then we played in the second and third Test match. We have never won a series in South Africa, as you know. It was a really big opportunity for us to win that series. Some of our senior players were not there,” Dravid told Star Sports.

Dravid further reflected that the team was on the cusp of victory in the last two Tests, and had they been able to set a competitive target for South Africa, the outcome of the series could have been different. He expressed that the team was close to securing wins in those crucial matches, but ultimately fell short, allowing South Africa to mount a comeback and claim the series.

“Rohit Sharma was injured, and we didn’t have some senior players in that series. But we were very close, and in both the Test matches—the second and the third test matches—in the third innings, we had a big opportunity. We could have set a decent score and won the game, but South Africa played well. They chased back in the fourth innings. So I would say that that was probably my lowest point in my coaching of not being able to win that series in spite of being ahead,” he added.The series was also marked by Virat Kohli's absence in the second Test, who was serving a one-match ban due to a slow over rate. In his place, KL Rahul led the team as captain. Despite this, South Africa secured a thrilling win, chasing down a target of 240. They then chased down 212 in the decisive third Test, clinching the series 2-1. This series also signaled the end of Kohli's captaincy era, as he relinquished his leadership role following the tour.