Former India coach Ravi Shastri has urged Australia to drop their English manners and play with aggression and intent in the second Test against India in Delhi. He also advised them to keep their Indian Premier League friendships aside and focus on the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
Shastri, who coached India from 2017 to 2021, wrote in his column in the Sydney Morning Herald that Australia needs to bounce back from their humiliating defeat in Nagpur, where they lost by an innings and 132 runs. He said he was surprised by their lack of fight, especially in the second innings where they were bowled out for 91.
“I want to start off with a strong piece of advice for the Australian team. Save the English manners for the Ashes. What you need are good old Australian manners here in India to bounce back from the defeat in Nagpur,” Shastri wrote.
“I want to see them come out and be their aggressive selves in Delhi. To back their ability and play with intent. I was surprised by the lack of it, especially in that second innings, where they were rolled for 91. If you lose, go down throwing punches,” he added.
Shastri also said that Australia should not let their Indian Premier League connections affect their performance and attitude on the field. He said he felt there was too much bonhomie between the players of both teams in Nagpur, and he wanted to see more hard-hitting Aussie intent in Delhi.
“I would also ask the Aussies to leave their Indian Premier League buddies behind and keep them for later. It felt like there was a bit too much bonhomie on the field in Nagpur for my liking. I want to see that characteristic hard-hitting Aussie intent come to the fore in Delhi,” Shastri said.
The second Test between India and Australia will start on Friday, February 17 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. India lead the four-match series 1-0 after their dominant win in Nagpur, where skipper Rohit Sharma scored a double century and spinners Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Axar Patel took 18 wickets between them.
