DTVHINDI
Ravi Shastri revealed how he encouraged a dejected Rishabh Pant when he was sitting alone in the dressing room after his dismissal.
Former cricketer Ravi Shastri served as the head coach of India for four years and during his tenure, Team India recorded some memorable moments. One such win took place during the year 2020-21, when the inexperienced Indian team came close to winning the historic Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
India had to face a shameful defeat in the first Test in Adelaide, Team India was all out for 36 runs in the second innings of that match. Mohammed Shami was injured during this clash and the then captain Virat Kohli also returned to India with his wife for the birth of their first child. After that Ajinkya Rahane was given the captaincy and he led India to victory in the second Test match played in Melbourne and leveled the series.
After this, the third Test match played in Sydney was drawn after a fighting partnership of 62 runs between Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin in the fourth innings. But before this partnership, Rishabh Pant had played an important role. Rishabh Pant had scored a brilliant 97 runs in 118 balls with the help of 12 fours and three sixes. The only thing running in everyone’s mind was that if Pant had played till the end, India could have won the match.
Ravi Shastri revealed the secret about Rishabh Pant after years
Rishabh Pant tried to hit a slag shot to Nathan Lyon to complete his century but he was caught by Pat Cummins. Now Ravi Shastri has revealed how he encouraged a dejected Pant when he was sitting alone in the dressing room after his dismissal.
Speaking on Ashwin’s YouTube show, ‘Kutty Stories with Ash’, Shastri said-
“If I tell him that he should not play that particular shot, it is against his nature. He can play the same shot again and again, better than the other. I told him that I am getting bored, you are getting out in the same way again and again. When he was out for hitting a shot to Nathan Lyon in Sydney, he came back and was sitting alone in the dressing room. And then the second new ball was taken and Pujji (Cheteshwar Pujara) hit seven fours.”
“So, when I went to the toilet, he was sitting alone in the dressing room, still wearing his pads. I looked at him and said, Pujji is scoring all your runs. He has hit 7 boundaries in half an hour. You are boring me man, by hitting reverse. You are getting out in the same way again and again. And was out in dangerous fashion. And then Pant said to me ‘This is what happened’.
After this, Pant (Rishabh Pant) played an important role in India’s spectacular victory in the fourth Test at Gabba. He scored an unbeaten 89 off 138 balls as India chased down the target of 328 runs in the fourth innings to win the series 2-1. India’s win in the fourth Test ended Australia’s 32-year unbeaten streak at the Gabba.
