'When he is there at the crease, the scoreboard is ticking' - Ravi Shastri backs Rahul Tripathi to debut in Ireland series

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has praised Rahul Tripathi and backed him to make his international debut in the upcoming games against Ireland in Dublin. The two teams will face off in two T20Is. The team includes a bunch of stars from the IPL 2022 and will be led by the IPL-winning captain Hardik Pandya.

There was a sense of disappointment when Tripathi was not named in the squad that faced South Africa, but the emotions changed as he received his maiden call-up for the Ireland tour. Shastri is of the opinion that Tripathi has the ability to place his shots well and showcase an all-round game.

“When he is there at the crease, the scoreboard is ticking. He doesn’t go behind the edged ball. Shot-making ability, the all-round game that he has, he’s not overawed by any opposition or by any bowler. He’s scoring at a great rate. You know which is tremendous at no.3 because he sets it up beautifully,” Ravi Shastri told ESPNcricinfo.

It is a very big opportunity, a dream come true: Tripathi

Having been a part of the domestic setup for over a decade, Tripathi had been impressive throughout his journey. That is what drove him toward the Indian Premier League as he now believes that his years of dedication has finally paid off. He garnered attention during the 2017 IPL when he represented the Rising Pune Supergiant and amassed some massive runs.

He then went on to play for Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad. His IPL 2022 stint with SRH was a remarkable one, which helped him earn a place in the India squad. Despite the Orange Army’s failure to advance to the playoffs, Tripathi scored 413 runs at a strike rate of 158.24. Tripathi thanked those who had stood with him, through the good and bad times, after being selected to play for India.

“It is a very big opportunity, a dream come true (moment) and (I) appreciate (it). I am very happy that the selectors and everybody believed in me and whatever hard work I have put in, I have got the rewards. And hopefully, if I get an opportunity to play, I will try and give my best,” Tripathi said.