Key Points:
Ravi Shastri gave a strong reaction to Team India’s continuous poor test performance. He said that both players and coaches should take responsibility. Shastri told that during his time the team used to win even when away and there was more sense of accountability among the players.
Delhi: Team India’s former captain and coach Ravi Shastri is very upset with the deteriorating condition of Indian Test cricket. From 2012 to 2024, India did not lose a single Test series at home. But, after Gautam Gambhir became the coach, Team India has lost two home series. That too badly. Last year, New Zealand defeated India 3-0 and this year South Africa defeated it 2-0.
Shastri spoke on Gambhir’s coaching
Ravi Shastri has clearly refused to defend coach Gautam Gambhir on the team’s poor performance. In the teaser of a podcast of News, he said, “Players should also understand their responsibilities.” Giving the example of Guwahati Test, he said, “How did the team suddenly reach 130 runs for 7 wickets from one wicket for 100 runs? This team is not weak. It has a lot of talent. Therefore, the players should also answer.”
When the interviewer asked if he was defending Gambhir, Shastri said, “I am not defending at all. 100 per cent (he is also responsible). Am I saying something wrong? If it had happened to me, I would have taken responsibility first. But, after that, I don’t even spare the players in the team meeting.”
Shastri has been a successful test coach
Virat Kohli was the Test captain when Shastri was the coach. At that time India was capable of winning Test series not only at home but also away from home. During the era of Shastri and Kohli, India had lost only two tests at home. But, during Gambhir’s tenure, India has lost 5 times in the last 7 home tests.
Ravi Shastri is counted among the most successful coaches of India. During his tenure from 2017 to 2021, India’s Test win percentage was 65. During this period, India won the Test series in Australia for the first time and repeated it again after three years. From 2016 to 2021, India remained number-1 in the Test rankings for 42 months and reached the World Test Championship final in 2021.
