Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has urged Mohammed Siraj to maintain his fiery attitude during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In his column for the Australian publication Code, Shastri emphasized that Siraj should not hold back, reflecting on his own experiences coaching the Indian team during successful tours in Australia.

Shastri recalled that under his leadership, the mantra was to respond aggressively to the Australians, and he noted that no Indian player backed down throughout those series. The recent incident in the Adelaide Test, where Siraj was booed after showing anger towards MarnusLabuschagne and Travis Head, sparked discussions about his temperament. Shastri expressed confidence that both Siraj and Head are mature enough to move past the altercation.

“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,” Shastri wrote. He reiterated his philosophy of giving back as good as you get, encouraging players to fight fire with fire.

Shastri also highlighted how this aggressive mindset became a team philosophy, with players like ViratKohli and Rishabh Pant ready to stand their ground against the Australians. As India prepares for the third Test at the Gabba on December 14, Shastri’s insights serve as a reminder of the competitive spirit needed to succeed against formidable opponents.