There should never be a knee-jerk reaction – Ravi Shastri warns India against radical measures ahead of World Cup

After India’s crushing defeat at the hands of Australia in the WTC final, there have been a lot of discussions about how India should proceed with their preparations for the upcoming World Cup. Former Indian coach, Ravi Shastri, highlighted that just because India is down a rabbit hole of woes where the ICC trophies have eluded them for a while now, it shouldn’t mean that the entire team should undergo a paradigm shift.

Warning against radical measures ahead of the World Cup, Ravi Shastri spoke to The Week as to why should India actually adhere to their guns instead of going head-on into a splash of changes that the fans believe should be suiting the Indian cricket team.

Shastri said, “First of all, there should never be a knee-jerk reaction because of what happened in the World Test Championship. It is a different format, one which India is good at. They are playing at home. I think they are one of the favourites. I am telling you now, I think they can win this one. Provided they get the right balance of experience and youth. And there is enough time to identify the squad that you want. And if you get your full strength side, I think India are favourites, with England and Australia.”

Defending India against the ‘chokers’ tag that has now started being thrown around in a very casual and derisive manner, Shastri said, “I would not say that. I mean, these two teams that were playing [India and Australia] were the only two teams that had a chance to win all three World Cups. And it is not that we have been rolled over [at World Cups]. We have been in the semifinals, we have been in finals. We have not got it because when you want to win the big one, you need a combined effort. You cannot blame one individual, one captain.”

He concluded by saying, “You need 100s in a World Cup, World Test Championship final. Then you have a good chance of setting it up for the bowlers and winning the trophy. If you do not get a 100, you need at least three 50s, whether it is Test, T20 or one-day cricket. If you have not done that, you do not deserve to win.”