Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri was upset after India lost to England by five wickets in the first Test at Headingley. Seeing problems in the Indian team, Ravi Shastri advised current head coach Gautam Gambhir to change the team’s mindset for the rest of the five-match Test series.
Ravi Shastri’s Outburst After Headingley Defeat
While speaking to Sky Sports Cricket, the former coach urged the current Indian coach to be firm when talking about the reasons for the loss in the dressing room. He also said the coach should openly hold players responsible for making the same mistakes again and again.
“I think (there is) a big role of the coaching staff,” Ravi Shastri said.
Ravi Shastri Urges Accountability from Coaching Staff
Ravi Shastri was not happy with the fielding mistakes and believes Gautam Gambhir should firmly point them out to the players. He said the lack of intensity in the field caused a shift in momentum during key moments of the game.
“Dropping catches is not in his control. That’s where the team as a unit can work harder and get better.”
“These are the areas where you’ve got to be hard at times as a coach, really hard in that dressing room. There are certain things where you tick off a few guys. But, there were a lot of positives in this Test,” added Ravi Shastri.
India’s Batting Lineup Holds Strong After Leeds
India’s strong batting at Leeds, with five centuries, including two by Rishabh Pant, means major changes in the batting lineup are unlikely. While Sai Sudharsan scored the least among the top order, he is seen as a promising talent and is likely to get more chances.
Karun Nair, back in the team after 8 years, failed to make an impact, despite being trusted with a key lower-order role alongside Jadeja. Dhruv Jurel remains an option at No. 6.
Shardul Thakur, picked as a bowling all-rounder, struggled in the first Test – scoring just 5 runs and taking only two wickets, with little overall impact.
With Kuldeep Yadav available, India may rethink their four-seamer strategy. If the Edgbaston pitch starts to break up, playing two spinners could give India an edge.
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