Mumbai: Indian cricket team coach Ravi Shastri made it clear there won’t be any further more ‘chopping and changing’ with the ODI side with just 13 matches remaining before the ICC World Cup in England. India has been experimenting with many players in the last year and so and it seems current ODI side touring to Australia will go to England as well if all goes well for them,
“We will try to play 15, who will go to the World Cup. Chopping and changing is over now. The grace period is over now. Now it is the time to really get focussed and play as a unit and then hopefully not have too many injuries, so that we don’t have to look elsewhere and take it from there. We don’t have too many games now. We have 13 games, so we will look to play the best team at all times,” Shastri said during the pre-departure press conference ahead of the Australian tour.
Shastri who prior to South Africa tour had said, next 18 months will define Indian cricket that included tour to SA, England and Australia, said he is satisfied with team’s progress.
“I see a lot of progress across all formats and I say that inspite of the scoreline in England. When you look at actual performances in conditions that are foreign to us, we are more than happy,” he said.
Kohli praises Shastri The coach got praise from skipper Virat Kohli for his man mangement skills and helping him to get out of worst phase of career during the England tour in 2014 only do well later in Australia on previous tour.
“The contribution that he has brought to the table ever since we started building this team is making people believe they belong at this level and I can vouch for it. At a time when we were going through a difficult phase in England in 2014 – he has been the most important factor in helping me get out of my shell. Shikhar (Dhawan) in the 2015 World Cup as well, he can vouch for that. To get the best out of the players, I think he’s been the most important factor. It’s about man-management which Ravi bhai has done brilliantly in the time he’s been with us.”he said.
Kohli rubbished claims that Shastri is his yes man. “About (Shastri) saying ‘yes’ all the time, that’s the most bizarre thing I’ve heard. I don’t think anyone has said no to me as much as him, honestly. He’s one guy I can speak to and get an honest opinion – if something doesn’t need to be done, he’ll tell you.
I’ve made the most changes to my game listening to him.”
