The playful exchange occurred during commentary after Shastri watched Heinrich Klaasen hit a switch-hit six off Allah Ghazanfar in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 match between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday.

Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Champions Waali Commentary’, Shastri said, “When I was a coach, Pujara, if I had told you to practice the reverse sweep three years ago, you would have come running after me with a bat. Isn’t it?” Shastri coached the Indian team from 2017 to 2021.

Pujara responded that the reverse sweep would not have suited his Test batting style and likely would have resulted in his dismissal. He stated, “Ravi bhai, if I had played such a shot in a Test match, I wouldn’t have been able to score runs. All three of my stumps would have been knocked over, because it was very difficult for me to execute that shot.”

Pujara, who scored 7,195 Test runs for India in 103 matches, is widely regarded as one of the finest Test batsmen produced by India. Known for his strong defensive technique and classic shot selection, the right-handed batsman retired from all forms of cricket in August 2025.

In the IPL 2026 match, Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated five-time champions Mumbai Indians by six wickets after successfully chasing a substantial total of 243. Key contributions included Travis Head’s 76 off 30 balls, Heinrich Klaasen’s unbeaten 65 off 30 balls, Abhishek Sharma’s 45 off 24 balls, and Salil Arora’s 30 not out off 10 balls.

Head and Abhishek Sharma combined for a 129-run opening partnership off 52 balls, providing a strong foundation for the chase. Earlier, Mumbai Indians, opting to bat first, posted 243 for 5 in 20 overs, highlighted by Ryan Rickelton’s unbeaten 123 runs from 55 balls.