‘Jab yeh coach tha, tho kar kya raha tha’ – Fans react to Ravi Shastri’s analysis of bringing left-handers in top 6 for India in 2023 ODI World Cup
Ravi Shastri compared the current Indian side and 2011 World Cup side.
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Jun 28, 2023 10:32 am
Ravi Shastri and Indian Team (Source: Twitter)
The 2023 World Cup has less than a hundred days to go. The Indian Team’s present assignment will be a full-fledged tour in the West Indies which will consist of 2 Tests, 3 ODIs and 5 T20Is. Then they will play 3 T20Is against Ireland before the Asia Cup commences on August 31 in the 50-over format. Meanwhile, Ravi Shastri has highlighted one major flaw in the Indian batting line-up. He said that India lacks the presence of left-handed batters in the side.
Shastri compared the current batting lineup for India, which does not have Rishabh Pant. Ravindra Jadeja will be a left-handed option on the side. But he bats lower down the order at 6 or 7. He said the 2011 World Cup-winning side tasted success because of the presence of left-handers in the Indian batting order. He also took the examples of Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina and Gautam Gambhir to prove his point.
Jaiswal and Tilak Varma are left-handers who can replace senior players in the Indian Team -Ravi Shastri
“No, that is going to be a challenge. You will have to see closer to the event. Form again becomes important. 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,” Ravi Shastri told the Cricket Governing Body in an interview. The present Indian batting side has been predominantly right-handed, and that was what Shastri implied.
“Whenever you have done well (left-handers contributed). In 2011, you had Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina. Go back to 1974… Alvin Kallicharran, Roy Fredericks, Clive Lloyd…. The same happened in 1979. The 1983 team was the only one that did not have a left-hander, but that whole tournament was against all odds. In 1987, Australia had enough… they had Allan Border at the top, and they had another two or three down the order. In 1996 Sri Lanka proved it again, with Sanath Jayasuriya, Arjuna Ranatunga, Asanka Gurusinha. And then Australia, with the Gilchrists and the Haydens. England have it now. That mix and balance has to be created.” Shastri added.
Shastri further spoke about options in the Indian talent pool that potentially could take the place of the seniors on the side. Speaking on the talent at hand, Shastri added, “You have Ishan Kishan. In the wicketkeeping department, you have Sanju. But the left-handers, you have Jaiswal, Tilak Varma. There is enough left-handed talent that can replace any senior player at the moment.” The former Indian cricketer said.
Let us take a look at the reactions on Twitter:
Right left hander se kuch nahi hota pressure situation main team flop ho jati hai thats the problem….
That doesn't mean u bring in a new player barely few months before the world cup and leave out players who were supposed to be playing at first place like he did with Vijay Shankar and pant last time
The monotonous batting line-up of India. All right handers since 2020. No Dhawan, no Pant, no other left hander picked. One way bowling for opposition.
India will need to wait for a long time to get such top quality two LHB part time spinners & a great determined player like GG plus a a strategist like MSD. Plus there was Sehwag and SRT to bowl.Issue is 2023 Team the players are mainly one dimensional especially the batters .
Shastri trying hard to crack MSD's winning formula. He can have 3 or 4 lefties in the team but it need MSD like person to take decisions n guide yo win the trophy
In 2011 gambhir,yuvaraj, Raina did not suddenly come into the squad they were backed for 1- 2 years before worldcup. I think we have the right squad with a good right hand player who bats really well .Back the players with skills don't pick with combinations and 3D stuffs
Apart from Tilak and Rinku there are no options and for that to happen we need to start giving them opportunities from now itself. But TM is busy trying untested players like Unadkat,Mukesh and Saini who are not even regular in their IPL team.
