Former India cricketer Ravi Shastri shared his thoughts on Sachin Tendulkar’s life-size statue which was unveiled at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai recently in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023.
The statue was dedicated to the legendary cricketer and his achievements in international cricket for India. Tendulkar is the all-time highest run-getter in Tests and ODIs and has a combined 100 centuries in both formats, being the only batter in history to achieve this.
However, some fans observed on social media that the statue resembled Australian cricketer Steve Smith more than Tendulkar. This also led to many memes on social media.
Recently on a podcast, Michael Vaughan cheekily asked Ravi Shastri what Tendulkar would think of his Steve Smith lookalike statue.
“Don’t even go there! I have not even met him. So I have not asked him. I’d like to pick his brain on what he thinks (about it). Where did he play that shot? I will know from his face whether he is happy with that statue or he is not because it won’t be long to know,” Shastri said on the Club Prairie Fire podcast.
There has been plenty of debate about the longevity and future of the 50-over format. The former India coach weighed in, suggesting that the format should be reduced to 40 overs.
“I think changes have to be made. When we won the World Cup in 83 it was a 60-over game it changed to 50 overs. You have to evolve with time, you have to see the attention span of the spectator. It is diminishing. I think the way forward would be a 40-over game,” he said.
Shastri also highlighted the viewer behaviour of those who visit the grounds to watch their team play, saying they are interested in just certain phases of the format.
“I see it with the crowds. They wait to see what has happened at the toss. If their favourite team is batting they rush to the ground they will watch the game they will watch 10 overs or 15 overs of powerplay of the second innings and they are off. They are off to see the game somewhere else. It’s the other way around if it’s too hot or India is batting second. Fans are going to reach the ground at 5 o’clock to see the last 10 or 12 overs of the first innings and then they want to see my team bat.
It is the attention span that is changing amongst youngsters. They don’t have time to watch cricket for eight hours especially since you have everything on your phone these days. They choose the right time to go,” he added.
