When Ravi Shastri was livid after MS Dhoni’s method in high-scoring ODI: R. Sridhar on recollects tense second

R. Sridhar has opened up on an incident from 2018 when Ravi Shastri was left fuming by MS Dhoni’s method in an ODI in opposition to England. India misplaced the match by 86 runs as Dhoni determined to close store and bat slowly.

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jan 23, 2023 13:22 IST

Sridhar stated that Shastri was left fuming with Dhoni’s method within the sport (Courtesy: Reuters)

By India Today Web Desk: Former India fielding coach R. Sridhar opened up on an incident in 2018 when then-head coach Ravi Shastri not directly took on MS Dhoni throughout a crew assembly for his sluggish batting.

Sridar launched his new e book ‘Coaching Beyond: My Days with the Indian Cricket Team’ lately the place he opened up on an incident from 2018 when India was touring England. India received the T20I collection 2-1 and had received the primary ODI. This was adopted by an 86-run loss within the second match the place the guests had been within the hunt when Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina had been on the crease.

But issues modified after they had been dismissed rapidly, that means that the onus was on Dhoni to get the job executed. However, the wicketkeeper determined to close store and India did not put up a combat ultimately.

Sridhar wrote in his e book, as quoted by News 18, that whereas they had been thrilled to see Dhoni rating 10,000 ODI runs, Shastri was left fuming by the method taken ultimately when the crew did not provide a combat and surrendered tamely.

“We had been within the hunt when Virat and Suresh Raina had been batting, however as we misplaced wickets, MS was left with solely the bowlers for firm going into the final 10 overs. Uncharacteristically, he shut store, and regardless that our required charge within the final 10 was almost 13 an over, we solely managed some 20 runs within the subsequent six overs. That was the innings when MS bought to 10,000 ODI runs a really important milestone. We had been all thrilled for him, however we additionally needed to know why he hadn’t made even a token try on the goal,”

“Ravi, meanwhile, was seething. He was furious not because we lost by 86 runs, but how we lost the game, how we went down without putting up a fight. We didn’t go for the target, we didn’t go down throwing a punch, we just went down tamely. The head coach wasn’t going to let that one sail harmlessly by,” stated Sridahr in his e book.

The former fielding coach went on to say that Shastri did not maintain again throughout a crew assembly and not directly slammed Dhoni for his method within the sport.

“The decider was in Headingley, and we had a crew assembly the day before today. The complete squad was in attendance, together with all members of the assist workers, and I knew Ravi was going to make a robust level. He was at his loudest and fiercest as he stated, ‘No matter who it’s possible you’ll be, there shouldn’t be one other event once we lose a match not making an attempt to win it. It is not going to occur underneath my watch. And if anybody does it, that would be the final bloody sport of cricket they’ll play underneath my watch. You can lose a cricket sport, no disgrace in that, however you’ll not lose like this.”

Sridhar said that Dhoni wasn’t rattled by Shastri’s words and didn’t break eye contact with the head coach at that time.

“MS was sitting right there in the front, and while Ravi’s words were meant for the team, his eyes were trained on MS. To the former skipper’s great credit, he didn’t flinch, he never broke eye contact with Ravi. He didn’t look here and there or fidget because one of his many admirable qualities is his ability to take the knocks, especially when he knows in his heart of hearts that he deserves them,” stated Sridhar.

Published On:

Jan 23, 2023