Aggression is the tested mantra for India’s success

Shastri-Kohli duo played the mind game perfectly at Lord’s and England fell into the trap

Hyderabad: The interesting facet of India’s stunning 151-run win over England at Lord’s in the second Test was the way the duo of coach Ravi Shastri and captain Virat Kohli handled the pressure and the manner in which they took the battle into the enemy’s camp with controlled aggression smacked of arrogance of a different kind. This Indian team believes in playing fearless cricket.

The tactics could be mean and not to the liking of the purists of the game but this captain-coach duo love challenges though it could boomerang at times. They have stuck to this no-nonsense attitude of playing aggressively like the Australians. If you sledge, we are ready to give back. They have been showing this attitude in the last few years particularly against teams like Australia or England.

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This four-pronged pace attack of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd Shami, Ishant Sharma and Mohd Siraj reminds of the West Indies pace quartet of the 80s. They breathe fire with sustained aggression. This X-factor has been the key to India’s new attacking style, especially in countries like Australia and England. Aggression is the tested mantra for success.

The Indians also played the mind game perfectly at Lord’s and England fell into trap. It even got the nod from former England captains Geoffrey Boycott and Michael Vaughan.

Former Test left-arm spinner SL Venkatapathy Raju said that India’s approach to the game is totally different now. “Both Shastri and Kohli are aggressive in nature. They are in the same wavelength. It suits both of them and they implement this brand of cricket to the full.

The way India delayed the declaration before closing the innings after playing just two overs and how Shami kept the English waiting with change of his apparel, which is all within the rules, saw the England team fret and fume in anger. It was tactical brilliance.

The long walk from the dressing room to the field and long walk back and then back to the pitch at Lord’s frustrates any team. This plan was executed beautifully. India won a big psychological battle much before England had collapsed in the second innings,’’ said 52-year-old Raju.

There is nothing much change in Shastri’s attitude as a player and as a coach. “He exuded confidence since his playing days. He loved challenges. He reads the game very well. He played a big part in my career when he preferred me over Anil Kumble in the Rest of India match against Bengal for Irani Trophy in Bengaluru in 1990. He would put the plans in honest ways. Even in the Test match against Sri Lanka in Chandigarh in 1990-91, he said I should play and I had figures of 17.5-13-12-6. He has continued in the same vein. He is comfortable with both senior and junior players. He is open with ideas. But he played the game the hard way. He was least impressed when Javagal Srinath had apologized Ricky Ponting after his bouncer felled him,’’ said Raju.

Former Test off spinner Arshad Ayub stressed Shastri and Kohli changed the mindset of the Indian team. “We are no more soft-guys type. There is change in the makeover of the team which is more aggressive in nature thanks to Shastri and Kohli. As a player also Shastri showed controlled aggression in his game. He followed the Australians way. He has brought that art of aggression into the Indian team. That culture has come since 2014,’’ said the 63-year-old.

According to Ayub, Kohli is a player who loves challenges. “He leads by example. He also learnt that art now.’’

Ayub said Shastri is not bothered by criticism. `He does his job in his own style. Yes, he is adaptable. He showed that when he backed (MS) Dhoni style of cool and calm captaincy and now Kohli, it is a different ball game. Kohli’s captaincy does have the traces of Sourav Ganguly’s leadership.’’