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Former India's star all-rounder Ravi Shastri has an advise for current head coach Gautam Gambhir ahead of the all-important Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-2025. Ravi Shastri want Gambhir to remain calm and composed during the upcoming tour of Australia. Gambhir will be under significant pressure, especially after India’s disappointing 0-3 series sweep against New Zealand in a recent home Test series. Shastri wants Gambhir to maintain a steady approach and understand his players’ strengths and weaknesses. He cautioned against making rash or knee-jerk decisions throughout the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy, encouraging a more measured and thoughtful approach to team management.
Ahead of the tour, there were reports of a lengthy and intense meeting between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Indian captain Rohit Sharma, and the coaching staff. The reports claimed that BCCI could take stringent actions if India underperform again in the upcoming Test series against Australia. Despite the pressure and potential consequences, Shastri has urged Gambhir to focus on the task at hand and not be swayed by external criticism or distractions. He stressed the importance of staying true to one’s vision and blocking out outside noise during challenging times.
First thing would be to be calm: Ravi Shastri's advice for Gautam Gambhir
"I think would be the first thing would be to be calm, you know, don't let outside elements, influence you in any way. Because of that, don't get into a position where knee-jerk reactions happen. Get to understand your players. You will see them in bad situations, you'll see them in India, you'll see them in overseas, you know, you will, notice what it takes for a player to click. You will understand situations of a team where a certain player might be better than the other," Ravi Shastri said in the Star Sports press room.
Shastri also said that building strong relationships with players takes time. He stressed the importance of Gambhir being open-minded and understanding towards all players, acknowledging their unique personalities and quirks. Shastri also highlighted the need for Gambhir to respect each individual's sensitivities and guide the team towards success.
"It took me some time to understand everyone. He might have seen them from the outside of the IPL, and he might have sat with a few players in the dressing room when he played the game, but there are a lot of other players and they come from different mindsets, different cultures, and different parts of the country. And for you to dig deep and understand their mindsets would be the most important thing. There could be a player, you know, who's an introvert, but actually, if you push him out there and give him the confidence, he could be a match-winner for you," Shastri signed off.
Notably, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will kick off on November 22 with the first Test match in Perth. The second Test, a day-night affair, is scheduled to take place at the Adelaide Oval from December 6 to 10. The series will then move to Brisbane for the third Test at The Gabba, to be held from December 14 to 18. The traditional Boxing Day Test will be played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26 to 30. The final Test of the series will conclude the highly anticipated contest at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7.
India's squad for Border-Gavaskar Trophy:
Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Devdutt Padikkal.
Reserves: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Yash Dayal.
