Ravi Shastri : I’ve returned to the side that I’d put in place the last time
Ravi Shastri believes his return to the helm has been smooth as the set-up remained unchanged from what he had put in place in his previous stint as team manager. Following their brilliant win in the Test series against Sri Lanka, the coach discussed the side’s mentality and preparations ahead.
Indian coach Ravi Shastri has expressed that the sense of trust between him and the players has been the key to the good mood in the dressing room and the side getting good results. “I can't speak for the time when I wasn't around, but what I can say with a sense of absolute belief is that nothing has changed between how things were during my last stint and now,” TOI quoted Shastri as saying.
He added, “I said at the start of the tour that I'm walking into a set-up which I had put in place and was working on until a year ago. That's the same set-up I've walked back into.”
While Shastri has been known for his easy going approach with the players, he also didn’t rule out the need to change his approach if and when the time arises, saying, “If I really want to make lives difficult in order to get 100 percent commitment from the other guy, I can very well do that and everybody in this set-up knows what I'm talking about. Yet, at the same time, I don't believe in unnecessary interference.”
Following Anil Kumble’s departure from the coaching position owing to his "untenable" relationship with Virat Kohli, Shastri has reiterated time and again that the primary role of a coach is to ensure confidence and trust between all the individuals.
“The captain is the leader of the pack and the coach is an extension of that role, in the sense that it's the coach's responsibility to ensure that everything is in order for the team and its skipper to go and give their best. Too much importance is given to other things, which is unnecessary,” Shastri noted.
Though India looked largely flawless in their recent Series win in Sri Lanka, Shastri emphasized on the department that his side should really focus on heading into the 2019 World Cup. “A disciplined approach is what counts… Look at this series. Barring the two no-balls in the second Test from Hardik and one in the third game from Shami, we've not faltered. How many catches did we drop? Two? Going forward, that is what we need to avoid altogether,” said Shastri.
“When the time comes for India to field a side for the 2019 50-over World Cup, we should have the best fielding XI in the world walking out. Only the fittest of the lot will survive and thrive going forward and that's right up there