We cringed when Ravi Shastri said that this Indian team had travelled better than most Indian teams of the past 15-20 years.
“If you look at the last three years, we have won nine matches overseas and three series (against West Indies and twice in Sri Lanka)," Shastri had said. “I can't see any other Indian team in the last 15-20 years that has had the same run in such a short time.”
Sunil Gavaskar retorted heavily. Social media had a field day trolling Shastri and the Indian team, in particular, their skipper.
Now, after thumping Australia in Australia, and belittling South Africa at home with utter dominance, the chorus has slightly shifted Shastri’s way.
In fact, there are arguments and stats backing this Indian team under Virat Kohli as the best ever. For captains with at least 10 Test matches at the helm, Virat Kohli’s win percentage is the best ever for an Indian captain.
|
Most successful Indian captains based on Win Percentage |
||||||
|
Captain |
Matches |
Won |
Lost |
Draw |
W/L |
Win % |
|
*V Kohli |
51 |
31 |
10 |
10 |
3.1 |
60.78 |
|
*MS Dhoni |
60 |
27 |
18 |
15 |
1.5 |
45.00 |
|
*SC Ganguly |
49 |
21 |
13 |
15 |
1.615 |
42.86 |
|
*R Dravid |
25 |
8 |
6 |
11 |
1.333 |
32.00 |
|
*M Azharuddin |
47 |
14 |
14 |
19 |
1 |
29.79 |
|
*BS Bedi |
22 |
6 |
11 |
5 |
0.545 |
27.27 |
|
*AL Wadekar |
16 |
4 |
4 |
8 |
1 |
25.00 |
|
*MAK Pataudi |
40 |
9 |
19 |
12 |
0.473 |
22.50 |
|
*A Kumble |
14 |
3 |
5 |
6 |
0.6 |
21.43 |
|
*DB Vengsarkar |
10 |
2 |
5 |
3 |
0.4 |
20.00 |
|
*SM Gavaskar |
47 |
9 |
8 |
30 |
1.125 |
19.15 |
|
*NJ Contractor |
12 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
1 |
16.67 |
|
*SR Tendulkar |
25 |
4 |
9 |
12 |
0.444 |
16.00 |
|
*L Amarnath |
15 |
2 |
6 |
7 |
0.333 |
13.33 |
|
*N Kapil Dev |
34 |
4 |
7 |
23 |
0.571 |
11.76 |
|
*VS Hazare |
14 |
1 |
5 |
8 |
0.2 |
7.14 |
In 51 Tests, Kohli has won 31 and lost just 10. At home, he has only been captain in one loss. His win percentage of 60.78% is way better than the next best, MS Dhoni with 45% and Sourav Ganguly with 42.86%.
That he has hands down led this team to one of the most ruthless outfits ever in Tests is a credit to the team. This Indian team has been on a roll and a tour to this country is now deemed the toughest assignment for a team in Test cricket.
There is further evidence to suggest this reign has been one of the best in India’s Test history. Sort out win percentages by year since India’s Test debut and 2019 is India’s most successful year in Tests.
|
Team |
Matches |
Won |
Lost |
Draw |
Win % |
|
2019 |
6 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
83.33 |
|
1988 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
75.00 |
|
2013 |
8 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
75.00 |
|
2016 |
12 |
9 |
0 |
3 |
75.00 |
|
2017 |
11 |
7 |
1 |
3 |
63.64 |
|
1993 |
8 |
5 |
0 |
3 |
62.50 |
|
2005 |
8 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
62.50 |
|
1994 |
7 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
57.14 |
|
2010 |
14 |
8 |
3 |
3 |
57.14 |
With 5 wins in 6 matches, the win percentage is an incredible 83.3%. But the year isn’t done yet and the numbers could change. However, 2016 and 2017 also feature in the top 10 in the list, two more years where Virat Kohli was leading the Indian team.
The fact that Kohli has overseen some of India’s most successful years in Test cricket is a testimony to the kind of team this has turned into in the longest format of the game. Would anyone dare argue with Shastri if he raises a claim to this being the best Test team ever from India? Unlikely.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Money Sharma
