Ravi Shastri Outlines The Role Of A Coach In Detail

Ravi Shastri’s role as the head coach of the Indian cricket team has often come under scrutiny despite leading India to unprecedented success in the past few years. It is mainly due to the Men in Blue not winning a single ICC trophy under his tutelage despite which the BCCI gave him an extended run. And even as India’s coaching camp boasts of batting coach Vikram Rathour, bowling coach Bharat Arun, fielding coach R Sridhar, and strength and conditioning coach Nick Webb, Shastri has outlined his role in detail.

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In a conversation with the Hindu Newspaper, the 57-year-old conceded that everyone in the coaching staff has a role to play. He said that in an ICC tournament or a bilateral series, there are so many factors that one may believe is little but can go on to become big if not addressed promptly.

Shastri further discussed it by saying that one would be silly to think that their job is simple when their task involves bringing the team together to play as a unit and how to approach different situations in a match.

At the same time, the chief coach also said that he would never step in the scheme of things unnecessarily and only if anything is going wrong in the set-up.

“We all have roles. Our job is to fine-tune them in every possible way because when you are on the road, there is so much happening, there could be little things in your game that creep in which you don’t realise, which could lead to bigger things. So our job is not to have a stick in our hand and keep rapping them on the knuckles,” Shastri said.

“How you bat as a unit, how you bowl as a unit, how you play for each other, how you take the game forward if you have a good start, where you give yourself time to take 20 wickets. So all that comes into play. So if anyone thinks that we are there to just put butter on the bread, they can take a walk,” he added.

“You don’t have to go to a player and tell him something for the sake of telling it. If there is a reason why you have to tell him that and if you have a solution, then I step in. I will never go to a player and tell him what you are doing is wrong without having a solution to correct it.” Shastri explained.

Ravi Shastri addresses India’s winless record in ICC tournaments under him:

Since 2013, the Indian team has got close in all the ICC competitions, but have failed to win crunch games to lift the trophy.

The former cricketer and commentator remarked that his team has to keep chasing the title, but at the same time have to keep their heads calm in pressure situations, stick to their game plans and ethics to give themselves a better chance.

“And I would say the only thing missing in the cabinet for these guys is an ICC trophy. That’s destiny. You have to chase it. At the same time, you don’t have to be desperate. You got to stick to your game plans, your work ethics, address the tough situations in a different way. We got to sit down and think how can we do this, how can we absorb that pressure so that you give yourself a better chance,” he said.

India are currently in New Zealand, playing their second T20I in a five-match series. Post that, they will also play three ODIs and two Tests.

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