‘Waise jaise Kishan and Rishabh perform krte hai’ – Fans react as Ravi Shastri hopes to see two left-handers in Team India for ODI World Cup 2023

India is set to host the ODI World Cup this year in October and November. Ahead of the prestigious tournament, India will face the West Indies and Australia in bilateral series and participate in the Asia Cup to prepare for the marquee event. Meanwhile, former India coach Ravi Shastri is looking to see two left-handers in India’s top order.

Shastri believes that whenever India does better in a tournament like the World Cup, left-handers perform for them. He gave examples of Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, and Gautam Gambhir, who turned the tables for India in the CWC 2011 and T20 World Cup 2007. Further speaking about the opening pair of the Indian team for the West Indies tour, Shastri said that there is a chance of alternation in the team.

“No, that is going to be a challenge. You will have to see it 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.

“Whenever you have done well [left-handers contributed], In 2011, you had Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, and Suresh Raina. Go back to 1974… [Alvin] Kallicharran, [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. In 1987, Australia had enough. They had [Allan] Border at the top, and they had another two or three down the order. In 1996, Sri Lanka proved it again, with Sanath Jayasuriya, Arjuna Ranatunga, and Asanka Gurusinha. And then Australia, with the Gilchrists and the Haydens. England has it now. That mix and balance have to be created”, he further added.

‘You have Tilak Verma and Ishan Kishan’ – Shastri on India’s options

Further, when asked about the options available for selection, Ravi Shastri says that wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, Hyderabad batter Tilak Verma, and Yashasvi Jaiswal can be picked for the job. “You have Ishan Kishan. In the wicketkeeping department, you have Sanju. But for the left-handers, you have Jaiswal and Tilak Varma. There is enough left-handed talent that can replace any senior player at the moment,” he said.

Notably, India will start their final preparations for the World Cup on the West Indies tour. The team will play a three-match ODI series against the Caribbean team. After that, the team will participate in the Asia Cup 2023 in Sri Lanka. Finally, in September, the team will face Afghanistan and Australia at home to give the final touches to their World Cup preparations. There are a total of 10 to 12 ODI matches scheduled for India ahead of the tournament.

Here is how fans reacted to Ravi Shastri’s comments: