'Kohli, Pant, and every member of squad...': Ravi Shastri's Response to Siraj-Head Controversy, Urges Team India to Match Fire with Fire

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy escalated in intensity in Adelaide when India pacer Mohammed Siraj engaged in a heated confrontation with Australia middle-order batter Travis Head, resulting in Siraj being fined 20 per cent of his match fees. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has offered his perspective on the incident, encouraging Rohit Sharma and the team to meet aggression with aggression.

Siraj and Head had a verbal spat with the former giving a fiery send-off after dismissing Adelaide's hometown hero after he had hammered the Indian bowlers all over the ground. Both individuals gave a different version of what transpired in the middle, however, the two buried the hatchet after Australia registered a comprehensive ten-wicket win.

“I’m sure Siraj and Head are mature individuals who will deal with it and the dust would have settled already,” Shastri wrote in a column for CODE Sports.

“If anything, I wouldn’t have expected anything else from a fast bowler after he’d been hit for a six. Siraj was letting off some steam. That’s the fast bowler’s temperament. You want it to be like that. When I was playing, my philosophy was to give it back as good as you get. And it’s exactly what I would tell my players when I was coaching India in Australia. Do not hold back one bit," he added.

Even though when Mohammed Siraj is receiving a lot of flak Down Under for his behaviour in Adelaide, Ravi Shastri does not want Team India to take a backward step.

Shastri who oversaw India's two series wins Down Under in 2018-19 and 2020-21, talked about how the likes of Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant wanted to give it back in the previous tours in Australia and how they always were ready for a fight.

“Do not take even one backward step. It then became the team’s philosophy and everyone from Virat Kohli to Rishabh Pant and every member of the squad was prepared to give it back to the Aussies," said Shastri.

Rohit Sharma who batted in the middle-order (No.6) in Adelaide has been asked to go back to his opening position in Gabba, Brisbane for the upcoming third Test.

“What I’d like to see in Brisbane is for the captain to return to the top of the order. Opening the batting is where Rohit belongs,” Shastri said.

“They might have tried having him in the middle in Adelaide but they have to immediately go back on that plan and instead push KL Rahul down the order. You need Rohit setting the tempo at the top. That’s his best position," he added.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy currently stands on level on terms. India and Australia will now look to take the lead in the five-match series when they take the field in Brisbane on December 14.