More than a week has passed since Australia emerged victorious over India in a one-sided final in Ahmedabad. Former head coach Ravi Shastri, speaking on Monday, threw his weight behind India as serious contenders in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Despite the recent setback, Ravi Shastri emphasized that what truly matters for a dominant side is emerging victorious in the critical knockout games of significant events. The defeat still lingers in the cricket fraternity’s collective consciousness, considering India’s impressive 10-match unbeaten run leading up to the title clash.
Reflecting on the challenges of winning a World Cup, Ravi Shastri drew a parallel with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, noting that even the cricketing great had to wait through six World Cups to secure a victory. Ravi Shastri stressed that winning a World Cup is no easy feat and requires a team to be exceptionally good on the crucial big day. His comments came during the registration launch of the Indian Street Premier League.
“What you do earlier does not count; on that big day, that is when you rise to the occasion. Even before the start of the tournament, you knew that, considering the format. Early doors are there, and once the top four teams are in the semifinal and final. Those two days, if you perform, you win. And those were the two days when Australia performed when they came from nowhere,” said the former India skipper.
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Ravi Shastri acknowledged Australia’s resilience, highlighting their comeback after losing the first two matches. He credited their performance on the decisive days, ultimately clinching the 50-overs World Cup title for a record sixth time. Despite India’s recent setback, Ravi Shastri expressed optimism about the team’s prospects in the T20 format, especially with the T20 World Cup scheduled to be held in the Caribbean and the USA from June 4 next year.
India, according to Shastri, has discovered a nucleus of young players who could play a crucial role in the upcoming T20 World Cup. While the recent defeat was disheartening, Shastri sees it as a learning experience for the players, emphasizing that the game moves on. He confidently stated, “I see India winning a World Cup very soon. It might not be a 50-overs one that easily because you have to rebuild the side, but in 20-overs cricket, the very next one, India will be very serious challengers because you have got the nucleus; this is a shorter format of the game. Your focus should be on that.”
Reflecting on India’s campaign in the tournament, Shastri acknowledged the stellar performance of the bowlers, particularly Mohammed Shami, who claimed an impressive 24 wickets. According to Shastri, the bowling unit gave India the best chance to succeed, especially in the middle stages of the tournament. Despite the heartbreak of not securing the cup, he praised the team’s overall effort, stating, “It was fabulous,” and expressing the lingering disappointment that the strongest team could not clinch the title.
The pain of the recent defeat is still palpable for Shastri, who emphasized that India’s strength as a team makes the loss more poignant. As India looks ahead to future tournaments, Shastri’s confidence in the team’s potential, especially in the T20 format, provides a positive outlook. The journey continues, and with the nucleus of young talent, India aims to turn the tables and emerge victorious on the global stage, learning from the setbacks and building towards a brighter cricketing future.
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