During an exclusive conversation on the Star Sports ‘Selection Day Special Show,’ former India coach Ravi Shastri provided insightful perspectives on the upcoming Asia Cup 2023 and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. Shastri’s focus on the batting line-up brought forth discussions about the positioning of young talent Ishan Kishan and the influence of seasoned player Shikhar Dhawan on the team dynamics.

Drawing from past experiences, especially the 2019 World Cup campaign, Shastri underscored the pivotal role left-handed batsmen play in the team’s composition. As cricket enthusiasts anticipate these upcoming tournaments, Shastri’s insights offer glimpses into the strategic considerations that guide India’s efforts to achieve success on the global stage.

Speaking exclusively on the Star Sports Selection Day show, Ravi Shastri addressed the placement of Ishan Kishan in the batting line-up for the Asia Cup 2023 and the impact of Shikhar Dhawan on the team.

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Reflecting on the 2019 World Cup campaign, Ravi Shastri noted the significance of Dhawan’s presence, stating, “At the top of the order, nowhere else. And the others have to be flexible. Between Rohit, Virat, and Shubhman Gill, that can be 2, 3, 4. A very important point is, I was a coach at that time, and I keep saying that people don’t give the credit that Shikhar Dhawan deserves. I mean, that guy was an amazing player.”

Ravi Shastri continued, “You mention the World Cup in 2019 where we lost that semifinal, when we had a brilliant World Cup, he was the missing man there. You know, that made such a big difference – a left-hander at the top of the order, as opposed to three right-handers with the ball swinging away, which allowed teams to get a grip on where to bowl and bowl consistently.”

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Emphasizing the significance of having two quality left-handers in the top 7 of India’s batting line-up for the upcoming tournaments, Ravi Shastri stated, “There are two positions in the top seven where I feel two left-handers have to come in. This is where a selector’s role comes in because they are watching, they know who is the guy who is hot. If Tilak Varma is hot, bring him in. If Jaiswal is hot, bring him in. But bring two in at the top, so if you are persistent with Ishan Kishan for the last 6-8 months and he’s going to keep wickets, then he comes in, in any case. But getting two left-handers in that top seven, including Jaddu, there should be three in that top seven.”