Former India coach Ravi Shastri has opened up about the bizarre team India squad selection for the 2019 ICC World Cup in England. India went into the semi-finals losing only one match, but was outclassed by New Zealand in a rain-affected encounter and was knocked out.
The BCCI selection committee had made some rather interesting choices when it came to picking players for the Indian squad for the tournament, like having three wicketkeepers in Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni, and Rishabh Pant in the squad.
Pant had come in as a replacement for an injured Vijay Shankar. Meanwhile, Ambati Rayudu who was being groomed for the no.4 position and had the backing of captain Virat Kohli, was discarded after one poor series at home against West Indies and the selectors opted for all-rounder Vijay Shankar in his place, which led to much criticism.
Ravi Shastri, in an interview with Times of India, conceded that either Rayudu or Shreyas Iyer should have been in the team instead of three wicketkeepers.
“I had no say in that (team selection). But I wasn't okay with three wicketkeepers being picked for the World Cup. Either Ambati or Shreyas could've come in. What was the logic in having MS Dhoni, Rishabh [Pant] and Dinesh [Karthik] all together?” Shastri said to TOI.
Shastri, however, added: “But I never interfered with the selectors' work, except when I was asked for feedback or as part of a general discussion.”
The Indian team crumbled to 24/4 while chasing 240 against the Black Caps in the semi-final and despite half-centuries from Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni, India fell short by 18 runs. This was also the final international match for MS Dhoni, who retired in 2020.
(Times Of India Inputs)
