Ravi Shastri Says Modern Indian Cricketers Live as “Public Property” Under Constant Scrutiny
Ravi Shastri says Indian cricketers live as “public property,” facing constant pressure and loss of privacy in daily life.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri has spoken about the enormous off-field pressure Indian cricketers face today, saying players live almost like “public property” with very little privacy in their daily lives.
Shastri explained that fame in India comes with constant public attention, making it hard for players to live normal lives.
“They don’t. They can’t because they’re public property. That’s why 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 said.
He shared that even legends like Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni had to find creative ways to escape the spotlight.
“Sachin would drive his cars after midnight just to get out, because during the day, at every traffic light, he’d be stopped. 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,” Shastri revealed.
According to him, the explosion of social media has made life even tougher for today’s players. With smartphones everywhere, even small moments of privacy are rare.
“The spotlight on players is much more than in our era because of all the social media. You get your phone straight out, start taking videos or photos, there’s no privacy. You’re public property, period,” he added.
Shastri noted that Indian players often perform better overseas because they can enjoy more personal space and freedom compared to what they experience at home.
His comments highlight the unseen emotional and mental strain that comes with being a modern Indian cricketer, where fame brings admiration but also relentless scrutiny every day.
