Ravi Shastri, the former head coach of the Indian cricket team, discusses how the team twice triumphed in Australia.
From 2017 until 2021, Ravi Shastri served as the head coach of the Indian cricket team, and his most memorable accomplishment was winning the back-to-back Test series in Australia. As captain and vice-captain, respectively, Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli led India to their first-ever series victory in Australia in 2018-19 and then again in 2020-21. As a result of these two victories, Team India gained newfound confidence and qualified for the first World Test Championship final as well. In a recent interview, Shastri explained how he came to develop a winning mentality.
When the Indian cricket team met the Australians in two away series, Shastri had a medication to combat their penchant for mind games and sledding.
“In particular while facing the Australians, it was all about mentality. As a rule, I told the lads, if someone says “f*** you,” respond with “f*** yous” of your own “In an interview with The Guardian, Shastri, the former coach of the Indian cricket team, explained this.
The Indian team is currently leading 2-1 in a Test series in England under the leadership of Shastri and Kohli. A COVID-19 outbreak in the Indian camp forced the postponement of the final game of the five-match series scheduled for July of this year.
“How many teams can come back from a 1-0 deficit to defeat an Australian attack led by Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, then win in England the next day? It’s going to take a long time for any team to replicate that kind of success “Shastri remarked thus,
Further, he outlined how the Indian fast bowlers became a formidable force by adopting a more aggressive mentality.
“Jasprit Bumrah is a quick bowler with aggression, and we knew that winning in Australia or England was not going to come through the spin. We played a major role in ensuring that he was able to play in a Test match. If you have the right mentality, you don’t need anything else “he stated.
