Former India head coach Ravi Shastri feels Team India should include three left-handers in their top seven for the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. The mega-event is all set to take place in October-November in India. The hosts will be keen to end their decade-long ICC ODI Title drought in the upcoming 50-over World Cup.
Heading into the World Cup, the 2023 Asia Cup in Pakistan-Sri Lanka will serve as a preparation for Team India. They will kick off their campaign in the continental championship begins on August 31 against Pakistan. With two competitions lined up, India’s squad is far from being settled. The batting order is fragile with uncertainty over Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul’s fitness.
Ravi Shastri feels India should include three left-handers, including Ravindra Jadeja in their top seven for the tournaments. Speaking on Star Sports, he pointed out that Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tilak Varma are in good form. He added that the management can go ahead with either of the two. Ravi Shastri said,
“There are three other positions where I think two left-handers have to come in, apart from the top four you mentioned. Now this is where the selectors’ role comes in because they are watching. They know who’s the guy who’s hot. If Tilak Varma is hot, bring him in. If you think Yashasvi Jaiswal is hot, bring him in.”
Ishan Kishan comes in in any case: Ravi Shastri
Ravi Shastri further shared that Team India should stick with Ishan Kishan, who has been playing for a while. This year, the left-hander has played seven ODIs, scoring 217 runs at an average of 36.16, with three fifties. In 2022, he slammed a double century against Bangladesh in an ODI match.
“So, if you have persisted with Ishan Kishan for the last 6 to 8 months and he’s going to keep wickets, he comes in, in any case. But get two left-handers. Including Jaddu, there should be three left-handers in the top seven. Ishan Kishan has been keeping it for the last 15 months. Why go somewhere else?,” said Ravi Shastri.
The former India head coach was also impressed with Tilak Varma, who made his T20 debut recently. Tilak finished as the leading run-scorer for India in the five-match series. He scored 173 runs at an average of 57.57. Ravi Shastri backed his selection ahead of the ICC ODI World Cup. He said,
“Very Very impressed with Tilak Varma. And I want a left-hander. If I am looking for a left-hander, I would really look in that direction.”
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