Former India vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane has highlighted the transformative impact of Virat Kohli's captaincy and Ravi Shastri's coaching, asserting that the duo "toughened up" Indian cricket following the retirement of MS Dhoni from Test matches.

Speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast alongside legends like Michael Vaughan and Sir Alastair Cook, Rahane reflected on the shift in mentality that occurred after the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He noted that the transition from Dhoni to Kohli ushered in an aggressive era that saw India become one of the most formidable traveling teams in the world.

"When MS Dhoni stepped away from Test cricket, Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri toughened up Indian cricket, especially in overseas Tests. We became more aggressive, bolder, and always proactive rather than defensive," Rahane stated.

Rahane emphasized that Kohli's leadership was rooted in empowering his players to take risks. "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," he added.

Concerns over Modern-Day Test Resilience

Despite the nostalgia of the Kohli-Shastri era, the recently retired batter expressed disappointment over India's recent struggles in the longest format. Having spent the last two years outside the Test setup, Rahane believes the current generation is lacking the necessary grit to survive challenging sessions.

"Sitting at home... watching Indian Test team losing matches even in India as well, I felt Test cricket needs character. You need to build that character. Mental toughness, competitive cricket, that's what is really important," Rahane explained.

Without naming specific teams, Rahane lamented the decline of patience in the modern game, suggesting that the ability to "play out those tough sessions" is becoming a rarity in the current cricketing landscape.