Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Rahane credits Kohli, Shastri for toughening up Indian cricket
Ajinkya Rahane is a former Indian cricket player.
He recently stopped playing international cricket.
He talked about it on a podcast called Stick To Cricket.
He said two people made Indian cricket tougher and stronger.
Those people are Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri.
Kohli was the captain and Shastri was the coach.
They told players to be brave and bold when playing Tests in other countries.
Rahane said the team became proactive instead of defensive.
Under them, India won two Test series in Australia.
Rahane led a team with many missing players to a 2-1 win there in 2020-21.
Former India player Ajinkya Rahane credited Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri for toughening up Indian cricket, especially in overseas Tests.
Under the Shastri-Kohli regime, India became the first team to win two consecutive Test series in Australia.
Rahane captained India during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy after Kohli returned home following the first Test.
A heavily depleted India, led by Rahane, defeated Australia 2-1 in their own backyard, with Rahane scoring 112 at the MCG in the second Test.
Rahane made the remarks on the Stick To Cricket Podcast after announcing his retirement from international cricket.
- Who
- Ajinkya Rahane, who credited former captain Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri; MS Dhoni was also mentioned as leaving Test cricket during that era.
- What
- Rahane credited Kohli and Shastri for toughening up Indian cricket, particularly in overseas Tests.
- When
- No specific date given; Rahane referred to the previous decade and the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, speaking after his retirement from international cricket.
- Where
- The comments were made on the Stick To Cricket Podcast; the achievement referenced took place in Australia.
- Why
- Rahane believes Kohli and Shastri made India proactive, aggressive and bold rather than defensive and reactive, especially overseas.
- Speaker
- Ajinkya Rahane
- Figures credited
- Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri
- Roles referenced
- Captain (Kohli) and coach (Shastri)
- Achievement
- Two consecutive Test series wins in Australia
- Series referenced
- 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy
- Result
- India defeated Australia 2-1
- Rahane's key innings
- 112 at the MCG in the second Test
- Outlet
- Stick To Cricket Podcast
