‘If the vice-captain doesn’t perform…’ – Ravi Shastri’s blunt verdict on KL Rahul ahead of BGT Test 3

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri is known for not mincing his words. He was yet again caught making bold statements before the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy(BGT) series. This time, he concentrated on a much thought and pondered situation, KL Rahul’s place in India’s Playing XI. As such, he highlighted two major points. Firstly, he talked a lot about the vice-captain’s role in Tests and secondly, the presence of good replacements on the bench.

“The team management know his (Rahul’s) form, they know his mental state. They know how they should be watching someone like Gill. I always had the belief (to) never appoint a vice-captain for India. I would rather go with my best XI, and if captain has to leave the field, you’d zero in on a player that can take over at the time, simply because you don’t need to create complications. If vice-captain doesn’t perform, someone can take his place; at least the tag is not there. I’m being blunt and brutal, I never like vice-captain in home conditions. Overseas, it’s different. Here, you want prime form, you want someone like Gill, who’s red hot. He will challenge. He has to bang that door down and get into the side. Now, he’s not the vice-captain, it has to be team management’s decision”, the former head coach opined.

‘Australia’s lack of application and discipline was unreal’ – Ravi Shastri

Shastri also opened up on Australian batter struggling to play spin on Indian tracks. He said it was an issue of application more than anything for the men from down under. “I think application (has let them down) more than anything else. The lack of belief in their own defence. The lack of application and the lack of discipline was unreal and Australia paid for it big time,” Shastri said.

He suggested Australian batters focus on basics and concentrate on prolonging their stay at the crease by playing defensive strokes without any hurry.

“… go back to the drawing board. If you don’t trust your defence, you have no chance because that’s when you entertain thoughts of breaking free, much quicker than you normally should. Sometimes you’ve got to spend some time at the crease, but how are you going to (do it) if you don’t trust your defence? “But I didn’t see one Australian batsman (do that). What surprised me was some of their most senior players also came out there and looked to do things out of the ordinary, something they’re not used to far quicker than later. And especially in conditions that suit the Indians. So I think it’s patience, it’s application, it’s discipline and trusting your defence,” said the 60-year-old.

India and Australia will face off for Test 3 at Indore, starting March 1.