Ravi Shastri once called for Antakshari to cheer up dejected India players, recalls former India team manager

Ravi Shastri recently departed from his role as head coach of the Indian national men’s team. He saw various highs and a couple of lows in his tenure that started in 2017. However, his work with the Indian team can’t be ignored and will go down as one of the most successful periods in Indian cricket’s history. 

In a recent interaction, Sunil Subramaniam, the former Indian team manager revealed a story of Ravi Shastri which gives an understanding of his man-management skills and highlights what a great coach he is. The incident which he revealed had happened way back in late 2017, just a few months after he took over the role. 

Subramaniam recalled the instance from the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Dharamshala. In the three-match series, India was without the services of their skipper Virat Kohli, who had pulled out of the series due to his wedding plans.

MS Dhoni was singing old Hindi songs until 2 in the night!: Sunil Subramaniam

India had lost the first game after being bundled out for just 112. The overcast conditions and the moisture on the wicket were exploited well by Suranga Lakmal, who ended with figures of 4 for 17 in 10 overs as India lost the opening match of the series quite handsomely. “Suranga Lakmal nondi eduthaan (turned us inside out),” the manager recalled. The next game in Mohali was a do-or-die game as a loss in any of the next two matches would mean a series loss. 

The head coach commanded, “Everyone be there at the bonfire at 8 pm,” the former manager recalled. Knowing Shastri’s fiery personality, everyone was a little scared of what the coach would say. However, once everyone reached that bonfire they were all relaxed because the coach had asked them to play Antakshari.

“Dhoni was singing old Hindi songs until 2 in the night! And everyone left that place so joyous, the bruise of the loss had gone and everyone knew what was to be done in the future, man management, pa, no one in India is better than Shastri in that. He knows when to say what,” Subramaniam was quoted saying by The Indian Express. India went on to win the next game and eventually turned the series around by winning the last game as well.