‘In 2011, we had Gambhir, Yuvraj, Raina…’ – Ravi Shastri flags gap in India’s ODI World Cup 2023 tactics

Former India cricketer-turned-commentator Ravi Shastri has outlined a few shortcomings in the Indian cricket team that might hinder them in the World Cup matches later this year. India has received unanimous permission to stage this year’s World Cup at home. Before India’s tour of the West Indies, veteran coach Ravi Shastri advised the present management staff and selectors about a critical position in the batting order by comparing it to the roster that claimed the World Cup in 2011.

The 61-year-old was being questioned about whether Shubman Gill is going to start partnering with Rohit Sharma in the forthcoming ODI World Cup 2023, to which he reacted by pointing out the lack of left-handed players in the Indian lineup.

Former stylish right-handed batter remarked that India requires no fewer than two left-handed batters in the top six while adding out that the squad had three left-handed batters in the 2011 World Cup with the likes of Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir, and Suresh Raina, which helped them to clinch the convocated title.

“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,” he said during an interview with The Week, as quoted by The Hindustan Times.

“Whenever you have done well [left-handers contributed]. In 2011, you had [Gautam] Gambhir, Yuvraj [Singh] and [Suresh] Raina. Go back to 1974… [Alvin] Kalicharan, [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,’’ he added further.

There is enough left-handed talent that can replace any senior player at the moment: Ravi Shastri

Shastri suggested that the likes of Ishan Kishan, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, and Tilak Varma, while specifically looking at left-handed choices India might think about before the forthcoming ODI World Cup.  “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,” he concluded.