In response to India’s precipitous fall in bowling, Ravi Shastri snaps, “These are not school kids, they are billionaires.”

The Indian cricket team’s fast bowlers rose to prominence while Ravi Shastri served as the team’s head coach. Shastri and former captain Virat Kohli elevated India’s bowling to a position where they routinely amassed 20 wickets in Test matches played away from home. India was able to defend any total in ODIs and T20Is because they knew their pacers would be on fire. The speed pair of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, as well as the spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravindra Jadeja, gave India plenty of options and contributed significantly to their domination in international cricket.

However, the same spark seems to have vanished with Shastri’s departure. The Indian bowlers have lost Tests abroad while defending respectable totals, including 242 in the Johannesburg Test earlier this year and 370+ against England in Birmingham. India has often let up large totals in T20Is, bleeding more than 200 runs six times in 2022, a significant change from when Shastri and Kohli were in command. In response to the issue, Shastri acknowledges that India’s bowling has recently suffered a sharp decrease and explains how the management is to blame.

“(Yes) Man-management is the key; these guys are millionaires, not schoolkids, and everyone has a unique attitude. How you interact with these individuals is crucial. You should be able to handle pressure, and know when to communicate with a person and on what level—an individual or one-on-one—since this sort of experience cannot be purchased or sold on the open market. You must own it. I believe I had it “At a “Meet-the-media function” held at the Mumbai Press Club, Shastri told Ayaz Memon.

India’s fielding, according to Shastri, is a further area that needs rapid adjustment. Along with bowling, the quality of ground fielding and catching has declined significantly, and Shastri thinks it is another reason why India frequently allows the opposition to score 200 or more runs.

“The need for fitness becomes paramount. The Yo-Yo exam was used during my time. Many people laughed at it. The exam was never intended for selection; rather, it was intended to raise participants’ awareness. Not only did it change how they played, but also how they moved about the field “explained he. “The frequency with which you have recently enabled the opposition to score more than 200 runs is concerning. Despite popular belief, the fielding is equally to a fault.”