null
Ravi Shastri served as India’s head coach for four years and in his tenure, the Men in Blue recorded some phenomenal moments. However, very few will come close to the epic Border-Gavaskar Trophy win in Australia in 2020-2021 with a very inexperienced side.
India suffered a humiliating defeat in the first Test in Adelaide, and this included them being bundled out for 36 in the second innings. Mohammed Shami got injured during this encounter. Then-captain Virat Kohli also returned to India to be with his wife for the birth of their first child. Ajinkya Rahane stepped in as the captain and guided India to a series-levelling win in Melbourne in the second Test.
Subsequently, the third Test in Sydney was drawn after Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin’s fighting partnership of 62 off 258 balls in the fourth innings. Before they joined forces, Rishabh Pant smashed a majestic 97 off 118 balls, hitting 12 fours and three sixes. If the wicketkeeper-batter had played till the end, the visitors could have won the match.
Pant tried to slog Nathan Lyon for a maximum to get to his ton but was caught by Pat Cummins. Shastri revealed how he had cheered up a disappointed Pant, who was sitting alone in the dressing room after giving his wicket away.
“If I tell him don’t play [that particular shot] it, that’s against his nature. He might play it even more. I told him I’m getting bored, you are getting out in the same fashion. It was to Nathan Lyon in Sydney when he batted brilliantly and got out for 97. He slogged one up there, came back [to the dressing room] and was sitting. And then the second new ball was taken and Pujji [Cheteshwar Pujara] hit seven boundaries,” Shastri said while speaking with Ashwin on the latter’s YouTube show, ‘Kutti Stories with Ash’.
“So, when I went into the loo, he was still sitting in the dressing room all alone with his pads on. I looked at him and said, Pujji is scoring all your runs. Seven (boundaries) he’s hit. Yes. It’s Pujji, he’s hit seven boundaries in half an hour. Then I said, ‘You are boring me yaar, hit reverse. You are getting out like this only no, aur Khatarnak fashion mein out hoja [get out more bizarrely]. And he said, ‘Ye hui naa baat’ (now this is something)”, the former all-rounder revealed further.
Also Read: BCCI invites applications for the position of India Head Coach for Senior Men’s Team
Shastri explained how it is important for a coach to understand the mindset of each player and give suggestions accordingly.
“Their mindset is completely different from someone else. I can’t go to Pujji and tell him to hit a reverse sweep. I have to ask him to just carry on. And that he has shown on multiple tours,” the senior added.
Pant went on to play a vital role in India’s monumental win in the fourth Test in Gabba. The southpaw scored an unbeaten 89 off 138 balls, as India chased down a 328-run target in the fourth innings to take the series 2-1. India’s win in the fourth Test ended Australia’s 32-year undefeated run at the Gabba.