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Quote of the day by Ravi Shastri: ‘For me, what you see is what you’ll get. I always like to call a spade a spade…'

Updated on: May 27, 2026, 07:01:58 IST
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Ravi Shastri at an event in New Delhi on March 17, 2026. (PTI)
Ravi Shastri at an event in New Delhi on March 17, 2026. (PTI)

Ravi Shastri's quote highlights the power of authenticity, and the importance of voicing one's own truth. 

Ravi Shastri has been a household name in India for more than four decades. For the older generations, he came into the scene as a left-handed spin bowler who turned into an all-rounder, and was a member of the World Cup-winning 1983 Indian National Cricket Team.

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For the younger generations, he has been the commentator who never holds back, and the former head coach who had a reputation for shooting straight and often. Born Ravishankar Jayadritha Shastri, he celebrates his birthday every year on May 27.

To commemorate the day, today’s quote is from one of his interviews as the head coach of the Indian National Cricket Team, a position he held from 2017 to 2021. The quote reads: “For me, what you see is what you’ll get. I always like to call a spade a spade and people who have played with me know me fully well.”

The meaning of Ravi Shastri’s quote

As a man who is known not to mince his words, Shastri’s quote does not really need an explanation. He is a fan of speaking from his heart, something that has often landed him in awkward situations but earned him fans across the globe.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's captain Rajat Patidar, left, and Gujarat Titans' captain Shubman Gill, right, listen to commentator Ravi Shastri before the coin toss ahead of the Indian Premier League cricket match between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Dharamshala on May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's captain Rajat Patidar, left, and Gujarat Titans' captain Shubman Gill, right, listen to commentator Ravi Shastri before the coin toss ahead of the Indian Premier League cricket match between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Dharamshala on May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

He is also one of the treasured people whom one could trust as a presenter or narrator to tell things as is, without gatekeeping any information. His words are loaded with his truth and have been a source of humour, introspection, and controversy. But that has never stopped him from continuing to belt bangers out.

What is the significance of Ravi Shastri’s quote?

In a world where people are always measuring their words for an uncountable number of reasons, be it for hiding the truth or promoting a lie, a reminder that people like Shastri still prefer calling “a spade a spade” serves as a motivation for us all.

Ascertaining the objective truth is a difficult endeavour that not everyone can be expected to undertake. However, the ability to voice one’s own personal truth is present within us all. Shastri’s quote and his popularity prove that even today, authenticity has its place in the human heart.

The ability to be true to oneself and to others is a virtue. It is something that is not often seen among public figures, which allows them to skirt past accountability. The quote highlights how its presence can help one’s words carry the weight that often money cannot buy.

  • Debapriya Bhattacharya
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Debapriya Bhattacharya

    Debapriya Bhattacharya is a Content Producer at Hindustan Times. He started his career in 2022, working in newsrooms in beats like education, US news, trending stories, and entertainment. In his new role in the lifestyle desk, he seeks to deliver a balanced blend of research-driven reporting and creative storytelling from health and recipes to art and culture. Science, philosophy, food and pop culture are what pump his veins and help bring heart to his stories. Debapriya tries to see out subjects that will allow him and readers to explore new frontiers and improve the quality of life for all. The explorations can be both external and internal, as thoughts seek to be as chaotic as the greater universe. As a citizen of the world, Debapriya has been fascinated by the lives of people across the globe throughout time. His curiosity leads him to explore new linguistic and cultural landscapes to broaden his horizons and deepen his understanding of global narratives. Beyond the newsroom, Debapriya loves to participate in debate and theatre, spaces that he considers to be holy grounds for nuance and self-expression. A graduate from Ashutosh College, University of Calcutta, Debapriya completed his Master's degree from the same university in 2022. An ambiverted bibliophile, he loves his solitude as much as he adores stimulating conversations. And despite his reverence for tech, libraries continue to be his favourite place for research.Read More

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