Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel has revealed how Ravi Shastri used to motivate and inspire the dressing room when he was the coach with his energetic words.
Parthiv said in Doordarshan’s The Great Indian Cricket Show, “Ravi Shastri sent me to open the Johannesburg Test match in the second innings. Usually, a coach would offer some advice about the pitch or playing conditions.”
“But what did Mr. Shastri say?” he said. “He simply said, ‘Rabada ka kabada kar de’. That is exactly how he thinks… Just imagine the kind of energy and motivation he would have given to the others in the team. Nobody does it better than him.”
Parthiv was talking about the Johannesburg Test in January 2018, in which India defeated South Africa by 63 runs. In the low-scoring match, India posted 187 runs in the first innings. Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara hit half-centuries. In reply, South Africa were bundled out for 194. Jasprit Bumrah was brilliant and took a fifer. In the second innings, Parthiv came to open and scored 16 runs. Rahane’s 48 was crucial in taking India to 247 in the second innings. Chasing 241, South Africa could only manage 177. Mohammad Shami was instrumental in India’s victory, taking five wickets in the second innings.
Patel’s story fits well with Ravi Shastri’s coaching style – keeping things simple, infusing positivity and motivating players with infectious energy.
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