Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has shared valuable advice for Gautam Gambhir who is now coaching the Indian team. Shastri told Gambhir to focus on his players and not get distracted by outside opinions to keep the team’s atmosphere positive.
Gambhir’s coaching career hasn’t started well, with India losing a home Test series to New Zealand 0-3. This loss has put extra pressure on him as India gets ready for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.
During an interview with Star Sports, Shastri advised Gambhir to stay calm and not make quick decisions based on outside noise.
“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,” Shastri said.
India’s recent loss to New Zealand has revealed some weak spots, and Gambhir now has the big task of helping the team recover.
Shastri spoke about his time as head coach and how he learned to understand his players’ personalities and needs. He advised Gambhir to do the same and connect with each player individually.
“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,” Shastri explained.
“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,” he added.
Ravi Shastri played a key role in India’s success as head coach, especially during their last two series wins in Australia. His leadership was crucial during India’s historic win on their last tour with a second-string team.
The first Test begins in Perth on November 22. The remaining matches will be played in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney, with the second Test in Adelaide being the only day-night match.
