Ravi Shastri says India should not take even one backward step.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri wants Rohit Sharma-led India to fire with fore following the fiery interaction between Mohammed Siraj and Travis Head during the recently-concluded pink-ball Test in Adelaide.
“I’m sure Siraj and Head are mature individuals who will deal with it and the dust would have settled already,” Shastri wrote in a column for CODE Sports.
“If anything, I wouldn’t have expected anything else from a fast bowler after he’d been hit for a six. Siraj was letting off some steam. That’s the fast bowler’s temperament. You want it to be like that.
“When I was playing, my philosophy was to give it back as good as you get. And it’s exactly what I would tell my players when I was coaching India in Australia. Do not hold back one bit.
“Do not take even one backward step. It then became the team’s philosophy and everyone from Virat Kohli to Rishabh Pant and every member of the squad was prepared to give it back to the Aussies.”
Shastri also wants India to change their approach in the third Test at Gabba, starting from December 14.
“What I’d like to see in Brisbane is for the captain to return to the top of the order. Opening the batting is where Rohit belongs,” Shastri said.
“They might have tried having him in the middle in Adelaide but they have to immediately go back on that plan and instead push KL Rahul down the order.
“You need Rohit setting the tempo at the top. That’s his best position.”
