Ravi Shastri puts forth the request of having a greater say in team selection process

Putting down curtains on all the anticipations, the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) reappointed Ravi Shastri as India’s head coach. Shastri, who lost the race to Anil Kumble in the previous selection process, took over the reins in 2017 after the Kohli-Kumble controversy. He shares a great rapport with skipper Virat Kohli and this duo has tasted some great success over the last two years.

India managed to win the ODI series in South Africa and Australia under his guidance. Moreover, they even won the Test series down under for the first time in history. However, it is also to be kept in mind that they were playing a depleted Australia team without Steve Smith and David Warner. At the same time, the team also lost the Test and the ODI series in England. Moreover, there are still some issues that are to be sorted out.

Ravi Shastri questioned about the number four

For a long time now, Team India has struggled to find a good number four in ODI cricket. In the last two years, several players were tried out at this position. However, hardly a few of them got a long run. This issue was prevalent even during the World Cup 2019. Post the exit after the loss in the semi-final to New Zealand, this debacle has only intensified. The management is yet to identify the right person.

Thus, quite obviously, Ravi Shastri was questioned about this during his interview. Responding to this, the 57-year-old said that the coach should have a greater say in team selection. He didn’t seem amused about being kept out of the selection process. Shastri even said that he didn’t get the players he wanted for the World Cup 2019. Thus, he requested that the coach’s inputs be taken during the selection.

“Shastri wasn’t amused with the fact that he was kept out of selection meetings from quite some time where only the captain sat with the selectors to pick the team,” a CAC member said.

“He basically suggested the team management didn’t get the players they wanted in the middle order for the World Cup. Although the team management doesn’t have a vote in selection meetings, Shastri wants both the captain and coach’s inputs to be taken in selection meetings,” said another CAC member as quoted by Times Now.

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