Former head coach Ravi Shastri has highlighted a crucial factor that could determine India’s fate in the upcoming mega event later this year. With India set to host the World Cup on home soil, Shastri has drawn attention to a missing element in the Indian cricket team.
Prior to the West Indies tour, where India is scheduled to play three ODIs, Shastri shared his concerns with the current management regarding the batting order, drawing comparisons with the 2011 World Cup squad.
When asked about the possibility of Shubman Gill opening the batting with Rohit Sharma in the World Cup, Shastri expressed reservations, pointing out the lack of left-handers in the Indian lineup.
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While Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja are the likely left-handers in the Indian XI for the World Cup, both of them bat in the lower order. India currently lacks a left-handed batsman in the top order. Shastri emphasized that India needs at least two left-handers among the top six batsmen, highlighting the 2011 squad that had three such players in Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, and Suresh Raina.
“In successful campaigns, left-handers have made significant contributions. In 2011, we had Gambhir, Yuvraj, and Raina. If you go back to 1974, you had Kallicharran, Fredericks, and Lloyd. The same pattern continued in 1979. The 1983 team was the exception without a left-hander, but that whole tournament was against all odds. In 1987, Australia had Border and a few more left-handers down the order. In 1996, Sri Lanka showed it again with Jayasuriya, Ranatunga, and Gurusinha. And then Australia, with the likes of Gilchrist and Hayden. England currently has that mix and balance. We need to create the same,” Shastri explained.
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“It will be a challenge. We will have to assess closer to the event. Form becomes crucial once again. Striking the right balance is essential. Do you believe a left-hander will make a difference at the top? It doesn’t have to be in the opening position but among the top three or four. We need to consider all these options. Ideally, I would like to see two left-handers in the top six,” Shastri concluded.