Shastri on the ICC Title Drought: “India Haven’t Got It Because When You Want to Win The Big One, You Need”
The Indian cricket team was labeled “chokers” because of their recent struggles to take home ICC trophies, but former head coach Ravi Shastri dismissed the accusation. When the MS Dhoni-led team won the Champions Trophy in 2013, India finally won an ICC trophy. The previous two T20 World Cups in 2021 and 2022 were difficult for India, who suffered back-to-back losses in the World Test Championship Finals. While they were disqualified from the 2019 World Cup semi-final.
Many fans and cricket critics began calling India “chokers” after their recent loss to Australia in the 2023 WTC Final.
Shastri, however, rejected the accusation and emphasized that India has a quality squad, has performed well lately, and has advanced to the semifinals and finals of ICC competitions.
I’d never say that. These two countries [Australia and India] were the only ones with a potential to win all three World Cups, after all. And it’s not like we’ve been treated unfairly [at World Cups]. We have competed in semifinals and championship games, according to Shastri in an interview with The Week.
The 61-year-old said that it is unjust to hold one person accountable for the ICC trophy’s non-winning.
“We don’t have it since a team effort is required to win the big game. One person, one captain, cannot be held accountable, according to the former India head coach.
Shastri emphasized once again that in order to win major ICC competitions like the World Cup and WTC Final, you need powerful blows from the batsmen.
“In a World Cup or World Test Championship final, you need 100s. Once you’ve set it up for the bowlers, you have an excellent chance of taking home the prize. Whether playing Test, T20, or one-day cricket, you need at least three 50s if you want to succeed. You do not deserve to win if you haven’t done it, he continued.
The forthcoming 2023 One-Day International World Cup, which will be held in India and is currently planned to run from October 5 to November 19, will include India as one of the favorites.
