Shastri’s contribution in Oz win can’t be undermined

Accolades have been profuse — and from all quarters — for India’s cricketers that beat Australia to win the recent Test series. There is not an iota of exaggeration or hyperbole, which usually accompanies success, in this. Every word of praise has been richly deserved

The hard-fought 2-1 triumph will be forever remembered, in fact gain even more lustre with time. Beating Australia in their backyard is considered the toughest assignment in international cricket. India did this against such heavy odds as to make the result mindboggling, beyond belief.

The hardships endured — both physical and psychological — by the team finds few parallels, not just in Indian cricket history, but in the sport itself. Heroes emerged in each daunting situation — senior pros, those with the experience of just 2-3 Tests, some even debutants — debutants, taking a cue from each other to lead the team to the incredible series win.

In hindsight, it wasn’t calibre which won the series for India. In fact, skills wise, Australia may have been marginally ahead, as statistics suggest.

Top scorer and highest wicket-taker in the series were both Aussies.

Where India scored was in grit, courage, self-belief, application, ambition, and not the least, judicious use of attrition or aggression to outplay the opponents. What this reflects better planning, proactive strategizing, time and meaningful communication with players.

This redounds to the credit of chief coach Ravi Shastri, and his support staff, B. Arun, Vikram Rathour and R. Sridhar. The efforts of the players, their resilience and derring-do, cannot be dilured even a whit. But Shastri’s contribution in the victory can’t be undermined either.

His strong influence comes through clearly in the entertaining and insightful conversation between R. Ashwin and fielding coach Sridhar after the series which the off-spinner has put on social media, followed by what bowling coach B. Arun had to say in a press conference on Friday.

What I’ve gleaned from the Ashwin-Sridhar tete-atete and Arun’s press conference, these are the areas where Shastri’s planning was crucial:

a) Bowling strategy against Smith, Labuschagne etc started in July, almost five months before the tour, along with Kohli and Sridhar. This entailed detailed studying of the Aussie batting during the hard lockdown period. The strong on side field to Smith, shutting up his off side run scoring opportunities paid off to a large extent. Shastri also asked Rahane to use Ashwin within the first 10 overs after Australia chose to bat first at Melbourne. The off-spinner got the master batsman cheaply.

b) Not reacting adversely when the team got bowled out for 36 at Adelaide. From what Sridhar says, Shastri in fact says the players should wear it as a badge, take lessons from the debacle so that it inspires them to success. This was crucial in keeping the morale of the team intact despite the freakish yet massive setback, and showed fine understanding of human nature.

c) Changing tactics after the first Test, confabulating with Kohli (before he left) and stand-in captain Rahane to play five bowlers, show more aggression against the Australians who appeared to be trying too hard to exacts revenge for the 2018 loss.

d) Not sending members of the ODI and T20 squads, plus the net bowlers like Shardul, Washington and Natrajan, back to India. His apprehension that some players might get injured came true when more than half a dozen got injured. These three did the start turn in the final Test.

e) Tackling each player’s failures/shortcomings (deploying other coaches in this too), with a mix of compassion and firmness to get the best out of them

Shastri’s booming, often bombastic approach has frequently made him the butt of criticism in mainstream media, memes and scorn on social media. But he’s stuck his neck out, in picking players (remember Jasprit Bumrah being given a Test place against all advice) or not (Rahane, Pujara, Ashwin have been dropped), taking the jibes and barbs on the chin when the ploys fell, all the while expressing confidence that the Indian team would deliver big time.

I think Shastri deserves a hat tip.