IND vs NZ: Go on the template of England – Ravi Shastri

Following a disappointing T20 World Cup 2022, Team India have landed in New Zealand for a white-ball series, comprising three T20Is and as many ODIs.

It’s a second-string side that has landed in New Zealand. Hardik Pandya will lead India in T20Is whereas Shikhar Dhawan will take over the charge in ODIs.

Speaking ahead of the series opener on November 18, the former head coach Ravi Shastri asked the Indian team to adapt England’s template in the shortest format of the game.

Shastri further said that the Indian management should specify the roles of the young players coming into the picture.

“There is an opportunity with this team in the future to identify roles for players, see the match winners as well as their duties, and go pretty much on the template of England,” Ravi Shastri said during a press conference on Amazon Prime Video.

“Because they are one team that really caught the bull by its horns after the 2016 (T20) World Cup (in reality, 2015 ODI World Cup).”

Citing the example of the reigning T20 World Champions, the former coach said India should identify their best performer for the formats and should back them:

“They went, they sat down and said, ‘We are going to change our resources. We are going to identify the best players for that format of the game – whether it’s T20 or 50-over cricket.”

“Which meant that if there were certain senior players who would sit out, then be it. And they got in youngsters who were fearless, who could adapt to that pattern of the game without having to change too much.”

The likes of Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, and Sanju Samson will have a chance to make a case for themselves in the absence of the senior Indian players, who will be seen returning for the ODIs and Tests in Bangladesh again.