Shastri desires two left-handers in India’s high six for the ODI World Cup
Is India’s ODI high six loaded with too many right-handers in the meanwhile? Former head coach Ravi Shastri appears to assume so and want to see at the very least two left-handers in India’s high six for the ODI World Cup later this yr.
“You need to strike the right balance. Do you think a left-hander will make a difference at the top? It does not have to be opening, but in the top three or four. You have to weigh all those options. Ideally, in the top six, I would like to see two left-handers,” Shastri informed The Week.
The World Cup is about to start out on October 5. Pant, if he will get slot in time, will seemingly get his place again, however what are the opposite left-handed choices?
“You have Ishan Kishan. In the wicketkeeping department, you have Sanju [Samson]. But the left-handers, you have [Yashasvi] Jaiswal, Tilak Varma. There is enough left-handed talent that can replace any senior player at the moment.”
Shastri was additionally adamant that India wanted to type a pool of children and get them within the combine forward of the World Cup. While he voiced issues about India’s red-ball depth, he was fairly proud of expertise coming via in white-ball cricket.
“There are so many youngsters. There is Jaiswal and, I might miss out a few here, Tilak Varma, Nehal Wadhera. There is [Sai] Sudharsan, who performed so nicely within the [IPL] remaining. There is Jitesh Sharma,” he mentioned.
“Among the bowlers, there is a crop of young fast bowlers. Quite a few, there is Mukesh [Kumar], names do not come to my mind now. But, there are at least four or five who can be groomed around that 135kmph-140kmph mark. So I am not worried about the talent in white-ball.
“You have numerous accidents lately. I at all times like a pool of 15-20. You ought to at all times be ready, you need to have a plan B, plan C.”
Another title that Shastri was fairly vocal about was Sanju Samson. The Kerala batter has been out and in of the India facet however has been included within the squad for the ODIs within the West Indies subsequent month. Shastri likened Samson to a younger Rohit Sharma and felt the wicketkeeper-batter could possibly be the “match-winner” India are on the lookout for.
“There is Sanju [Samson], who I imagine is but to grasp his potential. He is a match-winner. There is one thing that’s lacking. I can be upset if he doesn’t end his profession all weapons blazing. It is like once I was the coach, I might have been upset if Rohit Sharma had not performed in my facet as a daily Test participant. Hence, his opening the batting. I really feel comparable with Sanju,” he mentioned.
“Because of the IPL, you see an abundance of high-quality, younger, white-ball gamers. But, one mustn’t get carried away by that and assume they need to be computerized red-ball selections”
Ravi Shastri
Shastri felt that with a number of youngsters ready to knock the door down, India should get started on succession planning. “There are seniors able to be phased out and there are kids prepared. No query about it with regards to T20 cricket. Lesser in 50-over cricket and even fewer in Tests,” he mentioned.
“Because of the IPL, you see an abundance of high-quality, younger, white-ball gamers. But, one mustn’t get carried away by that and assume they need to be computerized red-ball selections. No, I might quite see the red-ball file. I might sit with the selectors and discover out extra about who the [red-ball performances] had been in opposition to, in what circumstances, what are their strengths, what’s the temperament of the bloke like.
“For me, temperament is key. It is paramount. Does the guy have the stomach for a fight? When it gets hot in the kitchen, is he is ready to bite the bullet? These are qualities I look for in a [Test] player. When I use the word fearless as a coach, these are the qualities that make a fearless cricketer. Backing his own ability and his strengths, and not wavering.
“Luckily for India, the amount of gamers that play the sport, in contrast with different nations, [is high]. I believe you need to at all times have a powerful bench throughout codecs.”
Shastri was confident that India go into the ODI World Cup at home as favourites, and could “win this one” if they got the balance of the side right. “They are taking part in at dwelling. I believe they’re one of many favourites. I’m telling you now; I believe they will win this one. Provided they get the precise steadiness of expertise and youth. And there may be sufficient time to determine the squad that you really want. And if you happen to get your full-strength facet, I believe India are favourites, with England and Australia.”