Image via cricinfo.com
Team India played clinical, determined cricket to bounce back in the 2nd Test at the P Sara Oval to level the series. But amidst all the brouhaha, team director Ravi Shastri’s guidance has been overlooked. Our Sri Lankan correspondent, HLRGC Perera, went behind the scenes to gather this first-hand account of how Ravi’s insights were instrumental in shaping this memorable win.
At the start of the series: “If India wants to win , they need to take 20 wickets”: This was Ravi’s novel insight at the start of the series, something the team seemed to have forgotten under Dhoni. “Our last Test win came more than a year back in Lord’s, you see,” a Team India insider said. “It’s been so long that we had forgotten that we need to take 20 Test wickets to register a win until Ravi reminded us.”
Of course, the team had taken 20 wickets at Galle too and yet lost. There was a lot of panic after that, with some even questioning whether taking 20 Test wickets is the right way to go about it. Rather than jump to knee-jerk emotional responses, Shastri coolly analysed the situation and concluded that in addition to taking 20 wickets, the team also needed to score more runs than the opposition. That set all doubts to rest. He followed that up with the much needed morale booster shot: “Make no mistake about it, this is a pressure situation. If India wants to win here, they’ll need to play well.” All doubts melted away after that, replaced by clarity of purpose.
On breaking the Thirimanne-Mathews partnership during the 2nd innings: “What India needs now is a wicket”: Mathews and Thirimanne were threatening to take the game away from India during the Sri Lankan chase. And when the Indian bowlers went wicket less in the first session of the third day’s play, shoulders began to droop. It was left to Ravi to rally the troops with “What India needs now is a wicket. I just get the feeling that something’s going to give, Kohli.”
And presto, Thirimanne was gone. Or in the words of the great man: “Edgedddd….and taken!!! Just what the doctor ordered.” Wickets began to tumble after that and Team India was back in the game!
Lending much needed perspective at the start of the Indian 2nd innings: “India in the driver’s seat here”: After bundling out the Lankans to gain a crucial 87 run lead, it seemed India had the upper hand. But someone had to articulate that and put things in perspective. Otherwise this team had developed a tendency to let things drift under you know who. Enter Ravi Shastri.
“India in the driver’s seat here,” Shastri said during the team meeting. “But all three results are still possible at this stage of the game. Sri Lanka will be looking to take wickets while India will look to score quick runs. If we get off to a good start, we can tighten the screws.” And that’s exactly how it played out during the Indian second innings. The Lankans caved in meekly in response, with some Sri Lankan batsmen even “failing to tickle the scorers”. And so it was time for the presentation ceremony.
The final moments: Over 600 runs had been scored, over 360 over bowled, 400 singles run, and in the end Sangakkara was the real winner. After the various VIPs, board officials, and players had had their say, it was left to Ravi to end things on a poignant note by asking: “So Kumara, do you like Indian curry?”