“Want To Win World Cup 2023, Don’t Open With Rohit-Gill,” Says Ravi Shastri: The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 is drawing nearer by the day, and cricket pundits are busy making some bold predictions and statements. Former Indian cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri believes that Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill should not be paired to open the Innings in the forthcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023.
Ravi Shastri reckons India should have at least two left-handers in their starting XI for the World Cup 2023. The former World Cup champion emphasized that India won the 2011 World Cup with two key left-handers who gave variations to their batting lineup. Ravi Shastri, who has observed and coached the team, thinks the management is unlikely to get benefit from the present opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in the marque event.
India’s favored opening combo in ODIs has been Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in place of the injured KL Rahul. Shastri contends that the lack of a left-handed batter makes it hard for this pair to be accepted for the World Cup. Shastri emphasized the value of a balanced lineup and the potential influence of a left-handed batter in the top three or four positions in an interview with The Week.
Shastri On Rohit-Gill Opening Pair for World Cup 2023
“No, that is going to be a challenge. You will have to see 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,” Shastri said in an interview with The Week.
Shastri highlighted the importance of left-handers in earlier World Cup success. Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, and Suresh Raina, all left-handers, all played significant roles in the 2011 World Cup victory.
Shastri cited historical instances, such as Australia’s dominant lineup of left-handed players and the winning teams of 1974, 1979, 1987, and 1996. In order for the team to succeed, he stressed the importance of creating a mix and balance.
“Whenever you have done well [left-handers contributed]. In 2011, you h u 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, they had another two or three, down the order.”
“In 1996 Sri Lanka proved it again, with [Sanath] Jayasuriya, [Arjuna] Ranatunga, [Asanka] Gurusinha. And then Australia, with the Gilchrists and the Haydens. England have it now. That mix and balance has to be created,” he added.
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