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Less than 100 days to the ODI World Cup 2023 and the news is all around the marquee tournament with a lot coming in place over the next few days. The International Cricket Council (ICC) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday, 27 June announced the schedule of the 50-over World Cup which will see the India host the first tournament completely.
Coming into the tournament as one of the favourites, the Men in Blue will aim to bring an end to the long-awaited ICC trophy drought. The side last lifted an ICC title in 2013 and the 50-over World Cup win came in 2011 under MS Dhoni’s leadership at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
After the key announcement on the World Cup schedule, former India Head Coach Ravi Shastri has opened up on the India’s combination for the marquee tournament. The former cricketer, who has had an experience with the players of the current side feels that Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill should not open the inning in the mega event. He feels that the opening pair doesn’t boasts of any left-hander.
“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,” he said in an interview with The Week.
The 61-year-old also is of the opinion that there should be at least two left-handed batters in the top six in the lineup. “Ideally, in the top six, I would like to see two left-handers,” Shastri added. The veteran also gave the example from India’s 2011 World Cup title to prove his statement, highlighting the role played by Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina.
“Whenever you have done well, left handers contributed. In 2011, you had Gambhir, Yuvraj and Suresh. Go back to 1974, Alvin Kallicharan, 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,” the former India coach reiterated.
He also cited examples from the Australian and Sri Lanka squad from 1987 and 1996 before concluding his take on the same.
Talking about Team India, the Men in Blue will begin their World Cup campaign against Australia on October 8, followed by a match against Afghanistan on October 11. they will then face arch-rivals Pakistan on October 15, followed by a match against Bangladesh and New Zealand on October 19 and 22 respectively. The Rohit Sharma & Co. W ill continue their group stage with a match against England on October 29, followed by a match against each Qualifier 2, South Africa and Qualifier 1, eying a place in the semifinals.
