T20 World Cup 2022: Former India coach Ravi Shastri believes that the Men in Blue need to improve their fielding before competing in the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia. Shastri, who left the Indian team after the T20 World Cup last year, stated that India need to increase their performance to match that of England, Australia, and Australia. Follow T20 World CUP 2022 LIVE updates with InsideSport.IN
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T20 World Cup 2022: Ravi Shastri backs India to go the distance in the T20 World Cup, but issues a stern warning, ‘fielding needs to be sorted’
- India play archrivals Pakistan in their tournament opener on October 23.
- Shastri is quite optimistic about India’s batting.
- Shastri said saving 15-20 runs will make all the difference for India.
- India will play their second practice match against Western Australia XI on Thursday.
The former India coach staked his claim on the possible semifinal lineup for the tournament that runs from October 16 to November 13 at a Wednesday session at the Mumbai Press Club. He referred to South Africa and New Zealand as the underdogs.
Shastri highlighted India’s strengths and weaknesses prior to the T20 World Cup. He expressed great confidence in India’s batting, claiming it to be the best in recent memory. “I have been part of the system for the last six-seven years, first as a coach and now I am watching from the outside, and I think this is as good a line-up as India has ever had in T20 cricket. With Surya (Surya Kumar Yadav) at No 4, Hardik at No 5, and Rishabh Pant or Dinesh Karthik at No 6 it makes a massive difference,” Shastri said. “It allows the top order to play the way they are playing.”
However, the former India coach identified the team’s weak area as fielding. “One area that India will have to pick up and start right from the beginning is fielding. They need to work hard and get their A game on the field when they step out against Pakistan. Those 15-20 runs that you save can make all the difference because otherwise every time you get out to bat, you need to get 15-20 runs extra. For sides like Australia, England, South Africa they field like crazy. Look at what Sri Lanka did in the Asia Cup with fielding. They won a tight game against Pakistan riding on fielding,” Shastri made a mention.
Former India fielding coach R. Sridhar also reckoned that the fielding needed significant improvement during the India vs South Africa ODI series. Referring to the Indian fielders’ rather mediocre performance as they repeatedly dropped catches during the series, he said, “All these catches should have been taken, no doubt about that. For instance, Dinesh Karthik was late to react. With Siraj, the night sky did make it a problem. The calling has not been good. They have to better that.”
Rohit Sharma & Co are currently in Perth where they are facing the Western Australia XI in two warmup games. After that, they’ll face off against Australia and New Zealand in two more warmup matches on 17 and 19 October respectively before the big clash against the arch-rivals Pakistan on October 23.
T20 World Cup 2022: Ravi Shastri backs India to go the distance in the T20 World Cup, but issues a stern warning, ‘fielding needs to be sorted’
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