The equation we had with journalists was better than what boys have today: Ravi Shastri

On the back of a recent storm in Indian cricketing circles caused due to Indian cricketer, Wriddhiman Saha, allegedly receiving threats by a journalist for declining an interview with him, former national coach, Ravi Shastri has commented that the relationship past cricketers shared with journalists was far better than what the present cricketers do.

He feels the spotlight that is on players of today is way more than what it ever was in his playing days. In today’s day and age of digital and social media, it could become challenging for the players to stay friends with journalists is what Shastri feels.

“I think it has changed. It has changed from the time we played the game. The equation we had with the journalists was far far better than the equation you see with the boys today. And I have been part of (the) dressing rooms for the last 7 years,” Shastri said at the launch of ‘It’s a Wonderful World’, a memoir by Khalid A-H Ansari, as quoted by TOI.

“I don’t blame the guys though because, the spotlight that is there on today’s players is nowhere like what it was on us,” he added.

A lot of things are taken out of context these days: Ravi Shastri

The coach who was present in the Indian dressing room up until very recently, before resigning from the position post the T20 World Cup last year, stated that the management had always advised the players to speak with media but in a more structured setting where all questions can be answered in one go, ideally at a press conference. He further stated that because things are more prone to be taken out of context in today’s times, players prefer to keep mum during their playing days and only speak more freely post their retirement.

“We had the print media; there was television (Doordarshan) that had just started. But today with the platforms that exist in the media and social media taking off the way it is, news channels, the number of news channels that cover the game, is unreal and that really is something that puts the spotlight on the players,” added Shastri.

“I feel we have tried to discuss it (with) them. To speak as much as you can to the media, but make sure that it is a proper kind of press conference where you take everyone’s questions at one go,”
“Because what happens is a lot of things are taken out of context these days and I am being honest about it, because of the competition that exists,”

“As a result of which, the player has no choice but to go into a shell, has absolutely no choice and says I rather look within, focus on the game, let my cricket do the talking and once I am done and dusted, then I can speak to whoever,” he concluded.