According to many experts and analysts the year 2021 might go down as one of the best for Indian cricket team but it cannot be forgotten that team India missed two ICC titles. In World Test Championship final, Virat Kohli’s men lost to New Zealand and in the ICC T20 World Cup India had to face an early disqualification.
Former head coach Ravi Shastri believes that his boys were “timid and tentative” at the T20 World Cup. India suffered two consecutive defeats against arch-rivals Pakistan and New Zealand which forced them to bow out of the event.
“Pakistan played well on that day, and against New Zealand, we were timid. We were very timid. It showed in the game. We were tentative instead of going for the jugular. You never mind losing as long as you're throwing punches. But if you're timid and tentative then it hurts more. And in a tournament like this if you lose too early then you're in trouble," Shastri said on a television show.
Format is an issue
The 59-year-old former coach believes that the format of the T20 World Cup played a key role behind India’s disqualification. According to him the format implemented at the 2019 World Cup should be the way forward, where each team plays all the others and called for a Playoff scenario.
"It's not like the format in 2019, where you can play every opposition. I think that is the way to go forward. That format is the best, and then have the Playoffs ideally, if you want to decide the World Cup," explained Shastri.
India were defeated by 10 wickets against Pakistan and against New Zealand in the next match, India lost by 8 wickets.
BCCI and captaincy tussle
Previously, while talking about the ongoing BCCI and captaincy issue, Shastri said that the Indian captain and head coach should have an official say in selection matters apart from the selectors going forward.
“I think it is extremely important for the coach and the captain to have a say in the team selection, officially going forward. It is very important especially if the coach is experienced enough. I was, Rahul (Dravid is) and the captain should also have a say.”
