Former India coach Ravi Shastri shared his candid thoughts on the upcoming Asia Cup and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2023 during an exclusive interview on Star Sports’ “Selection Day Special Show.” Ishan Kishan’s placement and the effect of seasoned player Shikhar Dhawan on the team were two topics that Shastri discussed with particular attention to the batting order.
Shastri stressed the critical importance left-handed batsmen have in the team’s makeup while reflecting on the team’s prior experiences, notably the 2019 World Cup campaign. Shastri’s observations illuminate the strategic factors that influence India’s strategy for success on the international stage as the cricketing world excitedly anticipates the event.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri spoke exclusively on Star Sports Selection Day show on Ishan Kishan’s position in the batting order for the Asia Cup 2023, the effect Shikhar Dhawan had on the group, and how the team struggled in their World Cup campaign in 2019.
The top of the list, and nowhere else. Additionally, the others must be adaptable. That can be 2, 3, or 4 between Shubhman Gill, Virat, and Rohit. And a very significant issue is that, at the time I was a coach, I consistently complained that Shikhar Dhawan didn’t get the credit he deserved. That player was incredible, I mean. You brought up the World Cup in 2019—when we had a fantastic World Cup—where we lost the semifinal and he was the man who was missing. A left-hander at the top of the order instead of three right-handers with the ball swinging away made such a significant difference because it allowed teams to control where to bowl consistently.
For the upcoming competitions, Shastri also emphasized the need of having two top-tier left-handers in the top seven spots of the Indian batting order. He said:
“I believe two left-handers must fill out the top seven at two different spots. A selector can fill this function because they are watching and are aware of the hot guys. Bring Tilak Varma in if he’s hot. Bring Jaiswal in if he looks hot. Bring two in at the top, though, and Ishan Kishan will be included in any case if you have stuck with him for the past 6 to 8 months and he continues to keep wickets. But with Jaddu and two other left-handers in the top seven, there ought to be three.
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