Ravi Shastri, a former coach of Team India, discussed how players were adamant about trying new things despite how cricket has changed recently. The outspoken ex-player made the comment following a reverse scoop by Joe Root on Thursday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad during the opening match of the 2023 ODI World Cup against New Zealand.
After David Malan was dismissed in the eighth over, Root entered the crease, and in the 12th over, he struck the unconventional shot against Trent Boult. The hit released the star batsman, and he has been cruising ever since while wickets have been falling all around him.
Given that Root was one of the most conventional hitters in existence as a result of his success in Test cricket, the pundits commended him for his willingness to try new things.
During his tenure as head coach, Ravi Shastri, who was present on-air with the panel, claimed that he had to press and prod the Indian players to do something fresh for the team’s sake.
“Full credit to Root to adapt to what the team needs (after reverse six). You get batters who are so stubborn. I speak from experience of sitting in a dressing room where a lot of players were hesitant to make a change because they’re afraid of what they might lose.”
Ravi Shastri
During the commentary, Michael Atherton raised a question about the Indian players’ discipline, to which Shastri responded:
“No, no. I literally had to push them to try something different. Because they are so used to accumulating those runs over the years. Sometimes you forget you got to evolve with the times. Because the opponent is evolving. He knows your game. He is upon you.”
Ravi Shastri
Root was able to turn his early scoop shot into a half-century by making the most of his momentum. He has 51 runs off 58 deliveries and is undefeated as of this writing.
Ravi Shastri’s Successful Tenure as Team India’s Coach Until 2021
After Anil Kumble left his position as head coach of Team India, Ravi Shastri was first hired. He and the team’s then-skipper, Virat Kohli developed a strong relationship that completely changed the team’s pace battery and their foreign red-ball performances.
The Men in Blue played some excellent cricket throughout ICC tournaments and were merciless in bilateral disputes, but the reign was marred by a dearth of hardware.
Following Team India’s elimination from the 2021 T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Shastri and the rest of the entourage, including Bharat Arun and R Sridhar, resigned from their positions.