Team India is getting ready to face Australia in the three-match ODI series and coach Ravi Shastri said that it is an opportunity to get the World Cup squad “right” without worrying about the outcome of the matches.
“The World Cup is the only thing on our minds now. Mentally, we're already switching from red (ball) to white,” Shastri told TOI. “Bumrah, for instance. He’ll have a good rest. At the same time, we’ll use these matches to fine-tune things. We’re not bothered about winning or losing these games. We’ll use this opportunity just to get the final look of the World Cup squad right.”
“We’ve already been in touch with the BCCI and the CoA in this regard,” Shastri said.
Shastri said, “We have certain plans in place and we’ll be looking to follow them. Usually, the two months of IPL are seen as relatively free months for me and I can just sit down and enjoy the cricket, watch out for new, young talent that keep emerging. But this IPL will be about monitoring the India players, keeping the World Cup in mind. There’s a lot coming and you’ll see the right measures being taken. The trainers, physios, assistant coaches, the captain, me, we’re all in touch with the board to make this work.”
“There are people who’ve only wanted to criticise this team, taking continuous jibes. Social media is fine, you get all sorts and none of that matters as long as you do what you have to do and do it right. But there are people who have simply wanted to pull this team down and mind you, some have not been very subtle about it either. That’s why I said what I said in the press conference after the Sydney Test,” he said.
Talking about the Indian team’s historic win, Shastri said, “Before my first stint with the team, India were number five or something (in Tests). The last three years they’ve been number one and that’s going to be the case for some time now. Those who want to keep abusing and ranting can continue doing that. Sooner or later, they’ll understand they don’t matter. This is the purest form of cricket. A 71-year-old barrier has been broken and accolades flowing from all over the world – from the likes of Viv Richards and Imran Khan – says it all. Those who’ve played cricket in Australia know what it takes to win here. They’re as tough as tough as an opposition can get and nothing comes easy here.”
“Of course, the 1983 World Cup glory is right up there and so was 1985. But I do stand by what I said. This is pure joy, this is real cricket. This is a young team, it is their moment and they should have a good sense of the kind of history they’ve made here. In fact, they do,” Shastri signed off.
(inputs from news18.com/cricketnext)
