When Ravi Shastri took over as India's head coach in July 2017, replacing Anil Kumble after a controversial fallout with then-captain Virat Kohli, he walked into his first Test series with a point to prove. His debut assignment was the 2017 tour of Sri Lanka, where India recorded a 3-0 whitewash. The Shastri-Kohli partnership went on to change Indian cricket for the next four to five years.
During his time as head coach 2017-2021, Shastri oversaw 43 Tests, winning 25, losing 13, and drawing five, a win percentage of 58.1, the highest for any Indian coach in the format. His tenure witnessed historic moments, like India's first-ever Test series win in Australia in 2018-19, a feat repeated in 2020-21 despite missing players due to injuries. The team also maintained a solid record in home Tests, winning 12 out of 15 during his time, and reached the final of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship in 2021.
Meanwhile, Gautam Gambhir entered as the head coach in 2024 after the team had lifted the T20 World Cup in the West Indies under the stewardship of Rahul Dravid. Gambhir's first Test series was a two-match home assignment against Bangladesh, which India won 2-0, his only Test series victory so far.