It’s for the Players to Decide Whether They Trust Me or Not – Ravi Shastri

Aug 16, 2017 at 5:59 PM

facebook iconlinkedin iconmail icontwitter iconWhatsApp iconTelegram icon
It’s for the Players to Decide Whether They Trust Me or Not – Ravi Shastri

Team India was authoritative in the Test series against Sri Lanka and clinched their first ever series whitewash in overseas conditions after they defeated Sri Lanka by an innings and 171 runs in the 3rd and the final Test at Pallekele. It was utter domination by the Indians and the clueless Lankans were left scratching their head.

The batting performance was exceptional by the top order and the bowlers kept on chipping away with the wickets on a consistent basis. With the series done and dusted, Indian coach Ravi Shastri during his interview with TOI spoke on a number of aspects of the game and what it takes for the players to move forward and his role in the team going forward.

Speaking on how the team is responding to his presence in the team Shastri said,

“Well, the trust is there. I can’t speak for the time when I wasn’t around, but what I can say with a sense of absolute belief is that nothing has changed between how things were during my last stint and now. I said at the start of the tour that I’m walking into a set-up which I had put in place and was working on until a year ago. That’s the same set-up I’ve walked back into.”

When asked that if the team has full faith in him, Shastri said that the call was up to the players and not him.

“Well, that is for the players to answer. I have a job to do and in my close to 35-year-career as a cricketer/commentator and the other roles that I’ve handled, I’ve only tried to give my best. All I can say is that the sense of trust, knowing they (players) have someone around they can walk up to and discuss anything they want. If I really want to make lives difficult in order to get 100 percent commitment from the other guy, I can very well do that and everybody in this set-up knows what I’m talking about.

Yet, at the same time, I don’t believe in unnecessary interference. Everybody in this set-up has a responsibility carved out and come what may, that responsibility needs to be carried out to the best of the ability. My job is to ensure this is happening on a daily basis and outside of this, anything that needs to be done in the interest of the team,” Shastri said.

“A few good words don’t just make your day but they also give the sense of belonging and confidence to take the next big step forward. A lot is spoken about coaching an international team. This team loves the pressure they face and see it as a challenge. It is the cynicism that kills all the joy. I’m not that kind of a guy. I look at the glass half-full,” Shastri said when asked if he doesn’t mind showering praise on the cricketers.

Shastri has said in the past that this is Virat’s team and he is just an extension. When asked to elaborate on this particular topic, Shastri said,

Virat Kohli. Image Credit: Getty Images

“I’ve always maintained this. Prior to when he took over as the captain, it was MS Dhoni’s bunch and he nurtured some of the boys who have prospered so well today. The captain is the leader of the pack and the coach is an extension of that role, in the sense that it’s the coach’s responsibility to ensure that everything is in order for the team and its skipper to go and give their best. This is exactly the principles I worked with in my previous stint too. As much as I or anyone else may contribute, eventually it is the captain who walks out with the XI when it matters. Too much importance is given to other things, which is unnecessary. What matters is confidence and trust between all the individuals and that is my responsibility, to ensure there’s enough of it.”

Wriddhiman Saha has been a standout performer for India and was brilliant behind the stumps all through the series.

Wriddhiman Saha. Image Courtesy: Getty Images

“Saha has been excellent, be it his wicketkeeping, batting or catching. He had always been an unwavering guy in domestic cricket for years and it is that hard work showing. He’s grown so much in confidence and remember, he’s walking into MS’ (Dhoni’s) shoes. He’s done phenomenally well to grow out of that shadow. The kind of ‘keeping he came up with in this series – on the kind of surfaces that were on offer – makes him the No. 1 wicketkeeper in the world right now.

The Indian batsmen were sensational in the series and this area seems to be the least of their worries. Speaking on this aspect Shastri said,

“To be honest, with a batting unit like this one, the last thing you’d be found doing is losing sleep. The core is such a good one and I’m glad the way Shikhar is timing the ball. He’s got two big hundreds that have put him in the kind of frame of mind he loves to be in. Cheteshwar has been batting like a dream and he’s in a zone where he has set his targets going forward. And as if all of this wasn’t enough, you saw a knock off a different kind here the other day. Hardik’s century simply changed the course of an entire Test match in less than an hour. We were thinking of going forward by 60 to 80 runs when the tail was batting and look where we ended. Five batsmen got a hundred in this series and close to 10 cricketers got 50-plus scores, which is a first in Test cricket for any team and when you come to think of it, I’m not a numbers guy at all.”

There are some big Test series lined up for next year which will be followed by the 2019 ICC World Cup. When asked has India already sorted their priorities, Shastri said,

“The World Cup has its own space that needs to be respected. And while that remains the goal, a fact also remains that if India needs to show their real might in the game, then achieving results in Test cricket is the pinnacle. Now, these are two different sets of goals altogether. Both need to be pursued with an equal amount of zeal and yet, both require a completely different level of preparation. Look at countries like England and Australia and how they perceive the game. Playing top-notch Test cricket and excelling in it is what they want to do. World Cups keep coming every four years and of course, we all understand its importance from a global and fan perspective. But if this team really has to be tested, then it’s Test cricket and we have plenty of it coming up next year.

Related Article
While MS Dhoni Was My Captain, My Eye Was On Virat Kohli: Ravi Shastri
While MS Dhoni Was My Captain, My Eye Was On Virat Kohli: Ravi Shastri

Feb 10, 2024, 3:34 PM


IND vs ENG: They Came Out And Did Not Keep The Scoreboard Moving – Ravi Shastri, Kevin Pietersen Lambasts Ravichandran Ashwin’s Lack Of Intent
IND vs ENG: They Came Out And Did Not Keep The Scoreboard Moving – Ravi Shastri, Kevin Pietersen Lambasts Ravichandran Ashwin’s Lack Of Intent

Feb 5, 2024, 11:49 AM


IND vs ENG: Cheteshwar Pujara Is Waiting, He Is Grinding It Out At The Ranji Trophy – Ravi Shastri On Shubman Gill’s Poor Form In Test Cricket
IND vs ENG: Cheteshwar Pujara Is Waiting, He Is Grinding It Out At The Ranji Trophy – Ravi Shastri On Shubman Gill’s Poor Form In Test Cricket

Feb 2, 2024, 3:07 PM


Watch: ‘Concerned’ Mark Waugh And Michael Vaughan React To Ravi Shastri’s ‘Dump’ Comment After India’s Collapse
Watch: ‘Concerned’ Mark Waugh And Michael Vaughan React To Ravi Shastri’s ‘Dump’ Comment After India’s Collapse

Jan 5, 2024, 11:56 AM


SA vs IND: Ravi Shastri Disappointed With Rohit Sharma’s Bowling Change On Day 2 Of Centurion Test
SA vs IND: Ravi Shastri Disappointed With Rohit Sharma’s Bowling Change On Day 2 Of Centurion Test

Dec 28, 2023, 2:56 PM


SA vs IND: I Think There Must Be Only Indians Voting In There, No One Else – Ravi Shastri Baffled By Broadcaster’s ODI Team Of The Year
SA vs IND: I Think There Must Be Only Indians Voting In There, No One Else – Ravi Shastri Baffled By Broadcaster’s ODI Team Of The Year

Dec 28, 2023, 2:43 PM


Desktop Banner
Mobile Banner