India vs Australia: ‘Wear this 36 like a badge on your sleeves’ – R Sridhar shares Ravi Shastri’s pep talk following Adelaide debacle

India vs Australia: ‘Wear this 36 like a badge on your sleeves’ – R Sridhar shares Ravi Shastri’s pep talk following Adelaide debacle
India 2
Indian Test team with the Border Gavaskar trophy

The recently concluded Border Gavaskar trophy saw India pull off a great comeback, arguably the best by the team so far. The tourists kicked off the Test series in the worst possible way as they were bowled out for a paltry 36. Having registered their lowest ever total in the format, India lost their captain Virat Kohli and pace spearhead Mohammed Shami. With a herculean task in front of them, many experts wrote off the side.

But the tourists bounced back to win the second Test and drawing the thrid one before scripting history at the Gabba. Throughout the series, India kept losing their frontline players to injuries. But neer did they lose hope. This story of ressillience was the highlight of the series

Ravi Shastri’s motivation

Bharat Arun and Ravi Shastri
Bharat Arun and Ravi Shastri

Many were dumbstruck with the turn around in the Indian side, especially in the absence of their charismatic leader Kohli. Fielding coach R Sridhar shares that it was head coach Ravi Shastri‘s pep talk which had the team going after hitting a record low in the series opener. Sridhar shares that Shastri insisted the side to remember the unfateful innings as a medal instead of trying to forget it.

“After 36 all-out, you didn’t know what’s next. Then Ravi (Shastri) bhai gathered the team and said: ‘Wear this 36 like a badge on your sleeves and you will be a great team’,” Sridhar told news agency PTI.

Sridhar shares that following the horror show in Adelaide, the team management had numerous meetings in a bid to figure out the best way forward. He adds that Kohli had ‘some lovely suggestions’ for the incoming captain Ajinkya Rahane before leaving. As a result of the side’s fighting spirit and Shastri’s constant motivation, India became the first Asian side to win back to back Test series Down Under.

“After 40 days, it was gospel truth. Also we had five meetings in two days after the Adelaide Test finished on the third evening. Virat (Kohli), Jinks (Ajinkya Rahane) and the coaching staff discussed the combination and Virat gave some lovely suggestions for the MCG Test before leaving,” Sridhar added.

Also Read | ‘I have never been scared of speed, the more they got tired the easier it got’ – Shardul Thakur opens up on Gabba heroics