Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has expressed hope that the team’s batters selected for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will be able to deliver and help the team reach the semifinals.
Shastri was India’s head coach at last year’s T20 World Cup where the Men in Blue won only three of their five matches and were unable to make it through to the knockout stages of the mega event. Since winning the title in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, Team India have not really impressed in the other editions.
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However, nearly a year later, the Indian batting line-up looks dangerous at least up until the middle-order, especially with Suryakumar Yadav’s explosive form and the re-introduction of veteran finisher Dinesh Karthik to strengthen the middle-order.
Despite the absence of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah who is nursing an injury, Shastri believes India’s batters can help the team qualify for the semifinals in the T20 World Cup 2022 down under.
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“I have been part of the system for the last six-seven years, first as a coach and now I am watching from the outside, and I think this is as good a line-up as India has ever had in T20 cricket,” Shastri said during an event.
“With Surya (Yadav) at No.4, Hardik (Pandya) at No.5, and Rishabh Pant or Dinesh Karthik at No.6 it makes a massive difference as it allows the top order to play the way they are playing.”
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Shastri is, however, a bit concerned by India’s fielding, with the experienced coach noting the team will need to perform better in this area throughout the event. “One area that India will have to pick up and start right from the beginning is fielding,” he said.
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“They need to work hard and get their A-game on the field when they step out (in the first game) against Pakistan. Those 15-20 runs that you save can make all the difference because otherwise every time you get out to bat, you need to get 15-20 runs extra,” said the former head coach.
