Ravi Shastri has advised current Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir to “stay calm” during the five Tests Down Under and avoid knee-jerk reactions.
Speaking at Star Sports Press Room, the former India head coach who guided the team to back-to-back Test series wins in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21, said: “The first thing would be to stay calm and not let outside elements influence you in any way.
“Avoid getting into positions where knee-jerk reactions happen. Stay calm and focus on understanding your players. You’ll notice what it takes for a player to thrive.”
Shastri said the key to success lies in understanding players and empowering them in match situations. “You’ll understand team situations where a certain player might be better suited than another, based on your understanding of their temperament.
“These insights don’t come overnight. It took me some time to understand everyone. Gautam might already have a basic understanding of the players’ temperaments. He might have seen themin the IPL or shared the dressing room with them whenhe played.
“However, there are many players with different mindsets, cultures and backgrounds. For instance, there could be a player who’s an introvert, but with the right push and confidence, he could become a match-winner for you.
“Understanding those kinds of players and enabling them to work and play in a way that brings out their best would be crucial.”
India are going into this Test after an unprecedented 0-3 loss to New Zealand at home, but Shastri feels Pat Cummins and Co. will never underestimate the visitors who have held the Border-Gavaskar Trophy since the 2016-17 series at home. “One thing is clear. This Australian team will never underestimate India, no matter who has come to play. They’ll be quietly confident but won’t let that confidence get too high.
“They’ll be desperate to win, as they haven’t won in their own country the last two times and haven’t had their hands on the trophy for close to 10 years. That desperation will be there,” Shastri said.
Advice for Bumrah
Asked if there would be additional pressure on India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah as he’s leading the side in the opening Test instead of Rohit Sharma since the birth of his second child, Shastri said he should not “over-try”. “These are things that happen naturally, beyond your control.
“There’s nothing you can do about it. You have to think ahead, see what’s in your hands and act accordingly.
“He shouldn’t over-try due to captaincy pressure. If he sticks to his strengths and bowls like a team player, he’ll be fine. But Bumrah is a mature and competitive cricketer. The Aussies know what they’re up against. They might come after him, but they also know he’ll come after them,” Shastri stressed.
