Time to show confidence on fresh blood, feels Ravi Shastri – Cricket News Update
Former Indian cricketer, Ravi Shastri, believes that it is about time that young cricketers replace the veterans in the national team but emphasised that the fresh blood must possess quality.
Since the last 12 months, India has gone through a massive slump in international cricket, going down on the ICC rankings in all the formats of the game. Prior to India’s tour of England last year, the Men in Blue were the number one ranked Test team of
the world.
However, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and company were whitewashed by England and the result in Australia was not different either. India also failed to defend the Asia Cup earlier this year, where Pakistan emerged as the new champions.
Many senior players have come under the radar in the last six months, which forced the former captain, Rahul Dravid, to announce his retirement from the game. Other veterans, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman are not ready to call it a day from international
sport but many former cricketers are of the opinion that India must look to build a team for the future rather than lingering on with the old campaigners.
Shastri thinks that Virat Kohli has established himself at the highest stage of the game and another talented batsman, Rohit Sharma must be given confidence to cement his place in the team.
"Virat (Kohli) has been outstanding in seizing his chances. Rohit too needs an extended run in international cricket. He needs to get all the opportunity. Time has come to back youth and invest in them. But they must be good enough to replace the seniors.
Age alone shouldn't determine a career," the former Test cricketer said.
While talking about the fast bowling talent in the country, the former all-rounder expressed that the young rookies should be allowed to focus on speed as this is the only way they can achieve the quality required at the international stage.
"A genuine fast bowler must look to bowl quick in whatever format he plays. He must do whatever it takes to retain the fitness and that mental edge. If it means cutting down on his engagements, so be it. The stress should be on quality, not quantity," Shastri
insisted.