ICC, Rishabh Pant, Michael Clarke
Rishabh Pant [Image Credits: Twitter]

India’s fielding coach, Ramakrishnan Sridhar, commonly known as R Sridhar, opens up on the plans of Team India on the fifth day of the Brisbane Test against Australia. The visitors won by three wickets with just 3 overs remaining in the game  – consequently, winning the series by 2-1.

India needed to chase a mammoth 324 runs more on Day 5 to win the match, R Sridhar revealed that Ravi Shastri had asked the team to approach the last day at the Gabba as if it were the first day of a Test match; play out the new ball, keep wickets till the second session and make a call after Tea. India went into Tea at 183/3 with Cheteshwar Pujara batting on 43 and Rishabh Pant on 10.

Australia vs India 2018/19, Sydney Test
Rishabh Pant, Cheteshwar Pujara was brilliant. (Credits – Twitter)

“Look, till Tea time we were just sitting there waiting for things to pan out the way it did. We were playing the match as if it was the first day of the Test match, we just batted like that.

“And Ravi had categorically instructed the team that we will approach this as the first day of the Test match and we will take a call when we get to Tea time, based on where we stand,” Sridhar told Sports Today.

Ajinkya Rahane decided to not send any message: Ramakrishnan Sridhar

Ramakrishnan Sridhar 
Ramakrishnan Sridhar  (Credits: Twitter)

Sridhar, who played domestic cricket for Hyderabad, reveals that after Cheteshwar  Pujara and Mayank Agarwal got out, the stand-in skipper, Ajinkya Rahane decided to not send any message and let the two youngsters, Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar, batting at that time play their way.

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The duo put on some vital runs before Sundar was dismissed. But Pant carried on and took his side over the line to conquer the ‘Fortress Gabba‘.

“So, Tea time came and we wanted to send the information as to how to approach it. And Ajinkya said ‘kuch nahi, we have not sent any message. We are not sending any message (to Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar) and we will just let the boys be’.

“But once Washi and Pant got together, their adrenaline kicked in and they had plans. And they had very clear plans. That is what is great about these youngsters, you listen to their plans based on their strengths and weaknesses, and it is amazing how clear they are with their plans. Their clarity of thought is amazing,” Ramakrishnan Sridhar added.

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