Former Indian cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri recently shared a touching and honest moment with Rohit Sharma in the IPL. Describing a pivotal Test match during the legendary India-Australia 2020–21 series, Shastri reminisced about Rohit's exclusion from the final Test in Brisbane — a move with which he strongly did not agree.

When mentioning the matter with the ICC, Shastri remembered a toss interaction with Rohit, when he had put a hand on his shoulder for a moment and said to him, "If I were coach, you would have never not played that last Test match." This was not a mere casual remark — it was reflective of a strong belief in Rohit's worth and potential match-winning potential, particularly in high-stakes situations.

According to Shastri, the series was still alive at 2-1 when the team entered the final match, and surrendering without the best eleven was never his coaching philosophy. “I’m not someone who throws in the towel with the scoreline 2-1,” he said. For him, even a 30–40 run score on a hot pitch like in Sydney would have turned the match in India's direction. — And Rohit, with his experience and panache, was quite capable of producing such a turnaround.

RAVI SHASTRI ON ROHIT SHARMA:

"I saw Rohit a lot at the toss. At the toss, you don't get enough time to speak. Though I did put my hand on his shoulder in one of the games - I think it was in Mumbai and told him, if I was coach you would have never not played that last Test… pic.twitter.com/p2XQ7sCixH

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 16, 2025

Also read: IPL 2025: KKR vs RCB Match 58- Who will be Impact Players for today's match?

A Missed Opportunity That Still Hurts

Ravi Shastri’s words make it clear that Rohit’s absence from that match is a decision that still weighs on his mind. “It’s been sitting in my heart for a long time,” he admitted, highlighting how much the incident mattered to him. He even acknowledged that although everyone has their own style and decision-making methods, his would have been different.

Rohit Sharma, who is cool-headed by nature and possesses explosive ability, was in reasonable nick, and Shastri felt that he had the potential to turn the fortunes of a game on his own. In nail-biting cricket, like that of a Test series decider, one game-turning innings can change history — something India did finally in Brisbane, but not after what Shastri feels was a lost opportunity.

This honest insight provides another dimension to the rich tapestry of India's historic Test victory Down Under, reminding followers of the choice, the conundrum, and the feelings behind the scenes.