When Shardul Thakur decided not to share Ravi Shastri's advice with Ravi Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari at SCG

Shardul Thakur played one of the most vital innings in the Gabba Test and then also went on to bowl a brilliant spell, both of which were instrumental in India’s win over Australia. However, during the third Test, the Mumbai player was carrying out drinks for the players along with key messages from the dressing room from the coach, Ravi Shastri. 

In a recent interaction, Ravichandran Ashwin and fielding coach R Sridhar explained what Shardul did while passing on the messages and the story is quite hilarious. According to Sridhar, Ravi Shastri took Shardul aside and told him what all things he needed to go and tell Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari, were batting out to save the Test. 

Sridhar recalled what all things the head coach told Shardul. “Ravi Shastri had a clear message. He called Shardul Thakur (and said) ‘Shardul, come here and tell them that I told this specifically.’ He (Shardul) was almost shivering. He said ‘ What should I say, sir?’ ‘Tell Ash, that I told him’, Shastri replied. ‘What should I tell him, sir?’, Thakur enquired,” Sridhar said during a YouTube session on Ashwin’s official channel. 

I am not going to say any of the things Coach said, you guys are doing well, so continue: Shardul Thakur

Ashwin added to Sridhar’s story saying, “Shastri said, ‘Ashwin should take care of this end, and Vihari should bat from the other end. Ashwin is the best batsman against Nathan Lyon in this entire team. So he should bat from this end. He has a huge stride which helps him negate spin so well. Vihari is managing Starc and Cummins really well, getting underneath those bouncers. So ask them to continue’.”

All the messages which were given to Shardul, the fast-bowler heard everything and then went out with drinks on the field. Ashwin then revealed what happened once Thakur had reached them. The pacer rather than giving any of the instructions from Shastri decided to just tell Ashwin and Vihari that they should just keep batting the way they are. 

“Then out came Shardul, running out from the dressing room. He was catching his breath when he reached us. We were like: ‘Just say it man’, while drinking water. Shardul said: ‘They told me so many things from the dressing room’. Yes, please tell, (I said). ‘But I am not going to say any of it,” Shardul replied. “You guys are doing a great job. So please continue.”

As it turned out, the two batters batted for more than 40 overs to save the Test, which ended in a draw. On the back of the draw, India went onto win the final Test and win the series 2-1.