In the thrilling landscape of the ongoing Cricket World Cup 2023, former India head coach Ravi Shastri weighs in on Rohit Sharma-led India’s prospects, labeling the current bowling attack as the best in 50 years of white-ball cricket.
Shastri, in a conversation with Club Prairie Fire podcast, emphasizes that the majority of the squad is at its peak, presenting Team India with a golden opportunity to break their ICC title drought.
Best Chance for Rohit Sharma & Co: Ravi Shastri
As the cricketing world watches the intense battles unfold in the World Cup, Ravi Shastri believes that this might be Rohit Sharma-led India’s best chance to claim the coveted title.
With the last triumph dating back 12 years, the country is hungry for another taste of victory. According to Shastri, the team’s current form and the conditions they are navigating make this World Cup their optimal opportunity for success.
“If they miss out this time, they would probably have to wait another three World Cups for even thinking of trying to win it. The pool of players is such that 7-8 players are at their peak,” Shastri remarks, underscoring the urgency and significance of the current campaign.
Dominant Bowling Performance: Team India
One of the standout features of Rohit Sharma-led India’s campaign has been the stellar performance of their bowling attack. Ravi Shastri praises the pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj for their relentless dismantling of opposition batters.
The spin combination of Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav has been equally effective, especially in the crucial middle overs.
Shastri contends that this generation of bowlers is unparalleled in India’s cricket history. “It is the best attack in 50 years ever since white-ball cricket started,” he asserts.
The meticulous seam positions and consistent lengths bowled by the pacers have posed significant challenges for the opposition, showcasing a level of mastery that has developed over years of playing together.
Consistency and Strategy
Ravi Shastri commends the bowlers for their consistency, emphasizing that it’s not about flashy deliveries but hitting the right areas consistently. In this World Cup, the Indian bowlers have strategically utilized short balls as surprise weapons, focusing 90% of their deliveries on targeting the stumps.
Shastri attributes their success to the seam positions, causing the ball to move unpredictably and creating considerable problems for the batsmen.
As India progresses through the tournament, the nation holds its breath, hopeful that this well-balanced and skillful team, at the pinnacle of its form, can secure the elusive World Cup glory. For Ravi Shastri, this might be the best chance in years, a culmination of strategic planning, exceptional talent like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, and a hunger for victory that could define this era of Indian cricket.
