5 times Ravi Shastri proved he was perfect manager material

#3 Ravi Shastri backed Rishabh Pant when the youngster faced criticism

'This guy can be destructive': Ravi Shastri backs Rishabh Pant amidst criticism#IND #INDvSA #RishabhPant #Cricket #TeamIndia #BCCI https://t.co/P9ECze8rmW

— DNA (@dna) September 26, 2019

Rishabh Pant has become India's number one wicket-keeper in the Test format. It wouldn't be an understatement to say that he is currently one of the best wicket-keeper batsmen in the world.

However, in the second half of 2019, Rishabh Pant struggled to perform well. He could not score big with the bat and disappointed with his glovework on a few occasions as well. Pant even lost his place in the Indian team after his inconsistent performances.

Nevertheless, Ravi Shastri knew Rishabh's potential. Whenever Shastri spoke to the media, he backed Pant. Here's what Shastri said in an interview with the Hindustan Times in September 2019:

"Pant is a special kid and he has already done enough. And he is only going to learn. This team management will back him to the hilt."

Had Rishabh Pant not received so much backing from management, he might not have reached the level he is currently at.

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#4 Ravi Shastri supported and motivated Mohammed Siraj after his father's death

Mohammed Siraj on Ravi Shastri’s backing during the Australia tour.https://t.co/0VG0Fh8LhA

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) June 3, 2021

Mohammed Siraj's rise to the top has made every cricket fan happy. Unfortunately, the right-arm fast bowler lost his father when he was in Australia with the Indian team.

Instead of returning home, Siraj preferred to stay with the Indian squad. He was very close to his father, but he made the big decision of not flying back.

The team management handed him his maiden Test cap ahead of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Siraj emerged as a hero for the visitors, taking five wickets.

In a recent interview with ABP News, Siraj revealed how head coach Ravi Shastri played an important role in his success.

"Ravi sir (Ravi Shastri) came to me and told, tu test match khel, dekh tereko 5 wickets milega. Tere Daddy ka dua tera saath hoga (You play the test match. You will get 5 wickets as your father’s blessings will be with you). Match ke baad Ravi sir ne bahut khus hokar bola, tujhe bola tha na 5 wickets milega (I told that you will be getting five wickets). I became very confident after my coaches encouraged me in such a way."

Mohammed Siraj played a vital role in India's series victory against Australia, but that might not have been possible without the chat he had with Ravi Shastri.

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#5 Ravi Shastri's strategy to attack in white-ball cricket by playing leg-spinners

Kuldeep Yadav (L) and Yuzvendra Chahal became regulars in white-ball cricket after Ravi Shastri became head coach

The Indian team has been dominating the ODI format post the 2017 Champions Trophy. The Men in Blue have recorded series wins against West Indies, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. In addition, they have also won the Asia Cup in 2018.

The Indian team had not been so consistent in ODIs in the couple of years before the Champions Trophy. The Men in Blue kept struggling in overseas conditions. It emerged that a lack of wickets in the middle overs played a role in India's defeats.

Ravi Shastri replaced Anil Kumble as India's head coach after the 2017 Champions Trophy. He decided to include two leg-spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, in the team instead of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

The decision proved to be a masterstroke as India started dominating their opponents in white-ball cricket. The Kul-Cha combo kept picking up wickets at regular intervals in the middle overs to prevent opposition teams from building big partnerships, paving the way for India's success.

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