MS Dhoni: R Sridhar, the former fielding coach for India, described an incident in which former head coach Ravi Shastri yelled at the incredibly strong MS Dhoni. In a game, Shastri wasn’t happy with Dhoni’s approach in the middle and told the great wicketkeeper-batter just how he felt about it, according to Sridhar.
When did the incident happen?
The incident occurred during India’s 2018 tour of England when India lost the second one-day match at Lord’s after taking a 1-0 lead in the series. India failed to reach the target of over 300 runs by 86 runs, and Dhoni oddly made no attempt to grind in the end.
Shastri didn’t hold back when he addressed the squad meeting prior to the last game in Headingley after being shocked by the style of MS Dhoni’s innings, which caused India’s necessary run-rate to increase noticeably before they gave up on the match.
In his book, “Coaching Beyond: My Days with the Indian Cricket Team,” the then-fielding coach claims that, although Shastri didn’t specifically single out Dhoni, he talked directly to the failed middle-order batsman in front of everyone else in the locker room, leaving them all speechless.
Sridhar recalls MS Dhoni & Ravi Shastri incident
Sridhar wrote, “We were in the hunt when Virat and Suresh Raina were batting, but as we lost wickets, MS was left with only the bowlers for company going into the last 10 overs. Uncharacteristically, he shut shop, and even though our required rate in the last 10 was nearly 13 an over, we only managed some 20 runs in the next six overs.”
Continuing further, he stated, “That was the innings when MS got to 10,000 ODI runs a very significant milestone. We were all thrilled for him, but we also wanted to know why he hadn’t made even a token attempt at the target.”
Dhoni’s poor performance costed the match
Dhoni’s inadequate- performance of 37 off 59 balls put an end to the tourists’ hopes of winning when he was left to bat with an extended tail and India requiring more than 12 an over. Although Shastri was plainly saddened by the result, the manner in which India was defeated—giving up far before the finish line and allowing England an easy comeback into the three-match series, which they ultimately won 2-1—bothered him more than anything else.
Sridhar wrote, “Ravi, meanwhile, was seething. He was furious not because we lost by 86 runs, but how we lost the game, how we went down without putting up a fight. We didn’t go for the target, we didn’t go down throwing a punch, we just went down tamely The head coach wasn’t going to let that one sail harmlessly by.”
“The decider was in Headingley, and we had a team meeting the previous day. The entire squad was in attendance, including all members of the support staff, and I knew Ravi was going to make a strong point.”
“He was at his loudest and fiercest as he said, ‘No matter who you may be, there should not be another occasion when we lose a match not trying to win it. It will not happen under my watch. And if anyone does it, that will be the last bloody game of cricket they will play under my watch. You can lose a cricket game, no shame in that, but you will not lose like this.”
Dhoni quietly listened Ravi Shastri’s yelling
Former members of the support staff said that Dhoni recognised the head coach’s suggestions because he knew he was under fire and for the correct reasons—having not performed in a way that was consistent with the legacy he had established.
“MS was sitting right there in the front, and while Ravi’s words were meant for the team, his eyes were trained on MS To the former skipper’s great credit, he didn’t flinch, he never broke eye contact with Ravi,” Sridhar wrote.
“He didn’t look here and there or fidget because one of his many admirable qualities is his ability to take the knocks, especially when he knows in his heart of hearts that he deserves them.”
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