Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri recently opened up about the immense challenges modern Indian cricketers face beyond the pitch, particularly their struggle with privacy. He described how the nation’s biggest stars, from legends like Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni to current players such as Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill, are essentially ‘public property,’ constantly living under intense scrutiny due to their widespread fame and massive fan base.
Adam Peacock posed a crucial question to Shastri: ‘Their life outside of cricket is so restricted. What can they do? Where can they find privacy? How do these individuals live normal lives?’ Shastri firmly stated, ‘They don’t. They can’t — because they’re public property.’ This constant attention, he explained, is a major reason why players often thrive when playing overseas. ‘You see them at their best at times overseas, because they can walk on the streets in Australia. Even there they’ll be hassled, but not to the extent of what they go through in India,’ he observed, highlighting the stark contrast in freedom.
He recounted stories of cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni devising clever ways to evade the relentless spotlight. ‘Sachin would drive his cars after midnight just to get out, because during the day, at every traffic light, he’d be stopped,’ Shastri revealed. ‘And the same with MS — he’ll get on his bike and head out where he wants to go. But it’s not easy, especially in this day and age,’ he stressed.
The veteran coach also emphasized how the advent of social media has drastically amplified this invasion of privacy for contemporary athletes. ‘The spotlight on players is much more than in our era because of all the social media,’ he noted. ‘You get your phone straight out, start taking videos or photos — there’s no privacy. You’re public property, period.’
While Shastri has previously lauded players like Kohli for their exceptional work ethic and fitness, acknowledging their crucial role in the team’s collective evolution, he conceded that off the field, the immense burden of fame stands as one of the most formidable challenges for any Indian cricketer in the current era.