Ravi Shastri Reveals Extravagant Eating and Drinking Habits During Playing Days
Ravi Shastri Recalls Extravagant Eating and Drinking Habits During Playing Days
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has shared some amusing anecdotes from his playing days, revealing the excessive eating and drinking habits he and his teammate Sandeep Patil indulged in during international tours.
At the launch event of Patil’s autobiography, “Beyond Boundaries,” Shastri reminisced about their voracious appetites. “We used to get much more money than any of the Test cricketers get today,” he said. “We were one pair (Shastri and Sandip Patil) that never took home any money. We would eat like pigs.”
Shastri recalled an incident where the room service staff was astonished by the sheer quantity of food they had ordered. “We were never short of liquid as well,” he added. “We were thirsty from a very young age. The game used to end at 5.30 and by 6.30 wet wicket would start.”
Despite their extravagant lifestyle, Shastri and Patil were highly successful cricketers. Shastri played 80 Tests and 150 ODIs for India, scoring close to 7000 runs and taking 280 wickets combined. Patil, known for his aggressive batting, played 25 Tests and 45 ODIs.
After retiring from playing, Shastri embarked on a successful career as a commentator and later served as India team director and head coach. Under his leadership, India achieved two historic Test series wins in Australia.
Shastri’s candid nature and willingness to share his experiences have made him a popular figure in the cricket world. His anecdotes provide a glimpse into the camaraderie and excesses that characterized the golden era of Indian cricket.