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'Today is the last day, give it everything. After that whatever happens, happens'
January 19 2021 by Cricbuzz Staff
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"The cricket they've played, there is no need to make any statement. Cricket will talk"
Ravi Shastri is not short of bombast when calling India's wins. After the series win in
2018-19, he invoked comparisons with India's 1983 World Cup win. After an even bigger
series victory under his watch, one he termed 'unreal', Shastri admitted he was rendered
emotional by the gravity of the achievement.

India were rank outsiders to repeat their feat from two summers ago after a spate of injuries
and the Covid-19 situation had left the team with just about enough fit bodies to assemble a
11 out of. Despite setbacks at every turn, the team dug deeper into their mental reserves to
complete one of the greatest underdog stories in the history of Test cricket.

Shastri let in on what he told the team ahead of the final day's play at The Gabba when his
side were still at the base camp of a peak they eventually scaled.

"I just said. Today is the last day of the tour. When we cross the boundary lines, this India
badge... don't forget it. You are playing for India, put your life on the line [jaan laga do]. It's
the last day, give it everything. After that, whatever happens, happens."

"Look, the coach's work is to mentally prepare the boys. Their mindset and thought process
should be clear. No point in overcomplicating things," Shastri added. "If you keep your game
simple and give attention to the basics... Coach sits in the dressing room, the boys go out
and fight. The cricket they've played, there is no need to make any statement. Cricket will
talk."

Captain Ajinkya Rahane, who glowing endorsed Shastri's contribution in backing a wounded
team, said India hadn't set any specific target with regards to overhauling the target of 328
but to simply keep the fight on, just like they'd done since the Adelaide debacle. It was after
the Tea interval, with India still 145 runs adrift, that Rishabh Pant took it upon himself to
chase the target.

"We spoke about playing simple cricket. What we did on this tour was [we] fought really hard
and the message was all about fighting till the end and not thinking about the result," Rahane
said. "Yes, Ravi bhaimentioned that we were looking to play session by session. Shubman
Gill the way he batted in the last three Test matches was really good. I mean, he was really
composed, really calm under pressure. Today everyone saw what he can actually do. His 91
set the game up for us.

"During lunch we were taking one session at a time. During tea time, I don't know if we sent
any message to Rishabh [Pant]. But He was always looking to chase that total down. Credit
to him, the way he batted, he took that risk, he took the Aussies on. His innings and
[Cheteshwar] Pujara's innings actually gave that platform."
Pant, who closed out the game with an unbeaten 89, earned the coach's praise for his
efforts. The 23-year-old has previously been a recipient of a 'rap on the knuckles' from the
head coach for a playing style that bordered on carelessness. "He's a good listener. He
listens, he understands," Shastri said.

"He realises what's his natural game but he knows he has to strike the right balance
between caution and aggression. No one wants to change the natural ability of anyone as a
coach, but sometimes you can be reckless. This game teaches you to learn. And he's shown
it in both the Tests, 90-odd [97] in Sydney... if he had stayed there for another 45 minutes
we'd have had a different story to tell. He was disappointed with that shot and learnt from
that. He made sure he was there at the end today, so fabulous job."

That the series was clinched on a dramatic fifth day with a young, second-string team also
turned the attention to the IPL and its role in shaping battle-ready cricketers for the top level.
Shastri put India's mental resilience of bouncing back from the 36 all-out was a combination
of India's coaching system at all levels, as well as the IPL.

"I think it's all combined. You can't just point a finger at one thing. IPL plays a massive role. It
encourages youngsters to share a dressing room with some of the biggest players in the
world. Not just India, from other countries as well. It breaks those barriers so they learn very
quickly," he said.

"As far as this team is concerned, they just got stronger. Once we've bounced back after 36,
there was a self-belief to refuse to take anything lying down. We had to counter-punch at
every given stage, and you noticed that right through the times when Australia would be on
top but there would be a counter-punch. And none bigger than that stand between Shardul
Thakur and Washington Sundar. I think that really set up the Test match. It was one
partnership, they counter-punched and they set it up for India. That was the one. Because it
got India past 300 and the deficit was just 30 [33]..."

Ⓒ Cricbuzz

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