Ravi Shastri: Indian cricket is never short of drama off the field. And once again, the spark has not come from a player’s Instagram story or a BCCI meeting, but from the outspoken former head coach, Ravi Shastri.
Known for his no-nonsense persona, Shastri weighed in on the most overcooked debate surrounding Indian cricket – workload management. Shastri fired a veiled shot at the current chairman of selectors, questioning the reasoning behind the management of India’s fast bowling assets.
What did Ravi Shastri said?
Shastri said, “One needs to have proper brains to properly utilize Jasprit Bumrah in international cricket.” This wasn’t a random banter as it came right after talks within the cricketing circles that the key pacers of India are being under-rested, overused, and mismanaged. Was this a pre-planned dig at the selection strategy of Ajit Agarkar?
While Ravi Shastri didn’t specify any names, the timing could not have been more telling. Recent scrutiny around the rotation policy of Team India for bowlers like Mohammad Siraj, Mohammad Shami, and Jasprit Bumrah has put the Indian selection committee under the microscope. Meanwhile, the recent press interactions of Agarkar defending the decisions of selectors have left many believing that there is more politics than planning in play.
Cricket’s Culture Clash
The Shastri-Agarkar dynamic symbolizes the generational culture clash that has always been an integral part of Indian cricket. The old-school mindset that values gut feelings and grit is wrestling with a new-age system obsessed with rest schedules, risk management, and data analytics. Are we overthinking cricket? Have we somewhere forgotten that the very bowlers we are trying to “protect” thrive on routine, raw competition, and rhythm?
Today, Team India needs less caution, more conviction as Ravi Shastri often say, “You can’t play top-level cricket with brain fade.”
India vs SA: 3rd ODI
The third and final ODI between India and South Africa will be played on December 6, 2025, at 1:30pm in Visakhapatnam. The ground has been one of the luckiest for star India batter Virat Kohli has scored 587 runs, including three centuries and a score of 99.
