'You Had Gambhir, Yuvraj And...': Ravi Shastri Calls The Biggest Loophole In India Setup
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are two of India's biggest batters (Twitter)
With the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 soon approaching, the Indian Team gears up to take on West Indies in their second-last ODI assignment during their Caribbean tour next month. Apart from Windies, Rohit Sharma and co. will feature in Asia Cup 2023, which will act as a precursor for the marquee event.
Former Indian player and coach Ravi Shastri, ahead of the three-match ODI series in West Indies, pointed out where Team India lacks the most in the 50-overs format, keeping one eye on the CWC 2023.
Shastri, who tasted success as a coach with India, explained that the lack of left-handers is a problem for the side, that aspires to achieve success like the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led team did in the 2011 World Cup.
Speaking to The Week, Shastri explained that India needed two left-handed batters in their top six.
Here's what Shastri said:
"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 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, 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."
With Rishabh Pant ruled out to due an unfortunate injury, India have the likes of Ishan Kishan, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shivam Dube and Tilak Verma waiting in the wings.
The ODI series against West Indies starts on July 27, after the two-Test series, which commences on July 12.
 "Vishal Mehra")
