Former Indian India batter Ajinkya Rahane announced his retirement just a few weeks back. He was featured on the Stick to Cricket podcast, and delivered a clinical assessment of a crucial chapter in Indian Test cricket. According to Rahane, the moment MS Dhoni stepped away from the longest format midway through the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia marked a genuine turning point. Virat Kohli took over the captaincy, Ravi Shastri was the head coach, and together they changed the way India approached Test cricket especially away from home.
“When we started playing in our era, especially in Test cricket, I felt Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri were the guys who toughened up Indian cricket,” Rahane said. “Especially playing overseas, going aggressive, going bold rather than being defensive and slightly reactive. I think we were always proactive.”
That shift was visible. India stopped waiting for the opposition to make mistakes and started dictating terms. The results followed under the captaincy of Kohli with series wins in Australia, the climb to No. 1 in the ICC Test rankings, and a place in the inaugural World Test Championship final.
Rahane explains how Kohli and Shastri transformed India's Test mindset
Rahane, who was right in the middle of that transformation as a key middle-order batter and later vice-captain, also revealed the freedom Kohli gave him at the crease. “Virat always told me, ‘If you feel like attacking from the very first ball, go for it.’ He gave players the confidence to play fearlessly.”
The contrast with earlier teams was obvious. Indian teams of the past often looked solid at home but struggled overseas. Under Kohli and Shastri, the mindset flipped. Intent became non-negotiable. Whether it was taking the attack to opposition bowlers early or fielding aggressively, the message was clear: India would no longer play reactive cricket.
Rahane’s words carry extra weight because he lived that period. He formed one of India’s most reliable batting partnerships with Kohli, combining the captain’s fire with his own calm temperament. Their communication was frank and positive, and the results showed both at home and abroad.
Reflecting on his time back now after hanging up his boots, Rahane was pointing to the moment Indian Test cricket decided it would no longer settle for being competitive. It wanted to be intimidating and win overseas. This mindset was more than any single series win, and may be the lasting legacy of the Kohli-Shastri years.
