Former Indian World Cup winner Ravi Shastri made a stunning revelation that he was not of the selection process during his stint as Indian head coach from 2017-2021. Shastri stated that he was never involved in the selection meeting.
Cricketer-turned-commentator Ravi Shastri wants a few changes in the Indian team selection process, as he wants the involvement of the head coach in the team’s selections as they know about the strength and weaknesses of the players.
“I have zero first-hand experience of attending selection meetings. For seven years I was part of the team, and I never went near a selection meeting. I wasn’t invited either. I think in the long run, yes [a coach should be invited],” Ravi Shastri spoke to Espncricinfo on his role in the selection process.
“You spend a lot of time with the boys, it’s important, even if not in voting capacity, but to hear what the selectors are thinking, what their train of thoughts is. And then to decide what could be the right thing for the side. I have zero ideas how it starts, how it finishes, who are there in the meeting”
BCCI selectors and their team selection came under the scanner in the last few events as they picked a few surprising picks for the ICC events like picking Vijay Shankar over Ambati Rayudu in the 2019 World Cup, Varun Chakravarthy over Yuzvendra Chahal in 2021.
In the recent selection for the 2023 WTC final, Ajinkya Rahane was preferred over Sarfaraz Khan in the absence of injured Shreyas Iyer.
It Is Extremely Important That A Coach Who Spends A Lot Of Time..- Ravi Shastri
Ravi Shastri feels it is important to have the suggestion of the team management in the selection process especially when the team is in the rebuilding phase and said that the coach spends most of his time with the players in their dressing room. He believes a coach can provide some vital inputs to selectors.
“From my point of view, that’s why I thought it’s best to stay away, but in the long run, especially when a team is in the rebuilding stage, it’s extremely important that a coach who spends a lot of time with the players within the confines of the dressing room can give some valuable inputs,” Ravi Shastri added.
The 2023 ODI World Cup will be a huge test for new selectors as they have a huge task to pick the best 15-men squad for the home conditions. With India already suffered with huge blow as Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer and Jasprit Bumrah are nursing major injuries in their careers.