On Tuesday, the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) comprises of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman has decided to go with Ravi Shastri as the head coach of Team India.
Shastri was India’s Team Director before the appointment of Anil Kumble last year. Now, that he is back in the Indian dressing room there are some challenges he will be facing in order to make the Indian team invincible before World Cup 2019. Here are some such challenges Shastri will face:
1. Re-instill a sense of belief
Despite the fact that Team India has achieved great heights in the past 7-8 years or so, they also had to face some severe downs as well. Certain losses in big tournaments like the loss against West Indies in the semi-final of World T20 2016 and Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final have left some heads dropping. Ravi Shastri needs to bring back that confidence that the team can do it.
2. Fielding standards
Ever since the MS Dhoni has taken the captainship of Team India, the fielding standing of the men in blue has raised way above expectations. The current fielding unit is arguably one of the best in the world, and Shastri will have to find the way to make it even better to make them invincible, especially in catching department.
3. Future of MSD and Yuvraj Singh
One of the most crucial things Indian coach needs to decide is the take a step about the future of these 2 stalwarts. He has to take a hard decision of whether keeping them in the team till the World Cup 2019 is feasible or not, and if he does, it will be crucial that how does Shastri handle both of them when it comes to fitness.
4. Motivate the youngsters
The young guns in current Team India will decide the future of the Indian cricket. The BCCI is consciously taking an effort to provide sufficient match practice to the youngsters. Ravi Shastri needs to back this trend, and encourage the younger generation of Indian cricketers.
5. Shastri needs to find a proper balance
The Indian cricket team is currently going through their best of forms and it seems that they have the formula that works best for them. Ravi Shastri needs to buoy them on and push the men in blue to further limits. If he can find a formula which makes them push harder, the team will start to believe in their own abilities a lot more.
