ICC World Cup | Those who missed out shouldn't lose heart, says Ravi Shastri

ICC World Cup | Those who missed out shouldn't lose heart, says Ravi Shastri

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Ravi Shastri stated that cricket is a funny game and an injury or two can bring any player into the team suddenly, so anyone who has missed out shouldn’t lose heart. Shastri also added that there is a No.4 position and that will be changed according to the situations, opponents and conditions.

After being excluded from the World Cup squad, Ambati Rayudu posted a sarcastic tweet, referring to MSK Prasad’s statement that Vijay Shankar adds three-dimensional value to the team. Although he didn’t refer to any particular cricketer, Ravi Shastri has stated that players shouldn’t be disappointed for the exclusion and an injury anytime brings the player into the fore out of nowhere.

"When you only have 15 to pick, there is bound to be someone or the other who misses out, which is very unfortunate. I would have preferred 16 players. We had mentioned to the ICC that in a tournament that long, 16 players makes sense. But the diktat was 15. "They (who missed out) shouldn't lose heart. It's a funny game. There could be injuries. So you never know when you could be called up,” Shastri was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

While Kohli and Shastri backed Rayudu for the crucial No.4 position after last year’s IPL, his regular underperformance has resulted in the Hyderabad batsman facing the sack in favour of KL Rahul and Vijay Shankar’s versatility to bat at No.4 position. However, Shastri is ready to alter the batting order and send someone else depending on the situation.

"Total flexibility (on No. 4 position) depending on conditions, opposition. I would say the top three but after that you can be very flexible," the Indian coach said.

A lot has been dependent on Virat Kohli’s success for the Indian cricket team and apart from the Indian skipper and the bowling department, others have been misfiring massively. But Shastri is quick to rubbish the opinion and stated that a team can’t be so consistent for so long if it is dependent on one player.

"If you look at the last five years, the way the Indian team has performed, they have always been in the top two or three. To be in the top two or three for five years in a row, No 1 in Tests, again top three in T20 cricket you can't depend on one player. You have that kind of consistent record, you need a bunch of players performing all the time. Due credit to the team."

While many termed India have been the favourites, Shastri, probably for the first time, steered clear of any headline-making proclamations and added that England are the favourites.

"England have been the most consistent team over the last two years. They have multi-dimensional players. They have depth in bowling and batting. And they are playing at home. So they would start as favourites."

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