Ravi Shastri blames Indian batters for their “overconfidence”

Ravi Shastri is respected for his views because he is blunt and doesn’t hold back any punches.

Known for speaking the truth no matter how bitter it sounds, Shastri is at it again, after India crashed to a defeat in the 3rd Test versus Australia.

According to Shastri, the Indian batters paid the price for “complacency and overconfidence”.

They were over-eager to dominate the Australian bowlers, on a wicket which offered sharp turn and uneven bounce from the first morning of the third Test.

India suffered a nine-wicket loss to Australia in the third Test, which finished in little over two days.

“This is what a little complacency, a little bit of overconfidence can do where you take things for granted, you drop guard and this game will bring you down,” the former India head coach said.

“I think it was a combination of all these things when you actually cast your mind back to the first innings, see some of the shots played, see some of the over-eagerness to try and dominate in these conditions.”

“You reflect back, take a step back or two to analyse.”

Opting to bat, India had lost seven wickets in the first session on day one, with left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann claiming a maiden five-wicket haul, to be bundled out for a paltry 109.

Australia posted 197 to take an 88-run lead and then returned to dismiss India for 163 in the second innings. The visitors achieved the target of 76 in 18.5 overs.

Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden too slammed the Indian batters, saying it looked they were playing to save their spots in the team.

“Change of team too. KL Rahul dropped. Some of those things can be a bit destabilising, players playing for their spots and their opportunities can create a different mindset,” he said.

Another cricket legend, Ian Chappell also criticised India for preparing rank turners.

He also said that India shouldn’t be providing “inputs” for preparation of pitches, and reminded the side of its two series wins in Australia Down Under.

“India need to see the error of their ways. I’ve talked before about trying to prepare pitches that suit India… have India forgotten that they won the last two series in Australia?”

“I go back to it again, what the hell are administrators, players, coaches, anybody outside the curator (doing?). Why the hell are they having an input for the pitch?”

“It should be left to the curator, let him produce a pitch that he thinks is a good one. Let the players play on it.”

The legendary Sunil Gavaskar echoed a similar point of view.

Gavaskar said that the “pitch played on their minds.”

Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden too slammed the Indian batters, saying it looked they were playing to save their spots in the team.

Australia had come into the match lagging 0-2 after being completely outplayed in the first two Tests.

In the third Test, the visitors were without their regular skipper Pat Cummins, who had left for home to be with his ailing mother.

In his absence, the team, which had to make a few changes, was led brilliantly by Steve Smith.

The two teams will face off in the fourth and final Test in Ahmedabad beginning March 9.