Here's what Sourav Ganguly has warned Ravi Shastri about
The Indian team has been performing remarkably well over the past couple of years and is currently the number one Test team, besides being the number two ODI team in the world. While much of the credit goes to head coach Ravi Shastri, the BCCI showed faith in him and retained him for his second tenure. However, former skipper Sourav Ganguly has warned him.
Shastri was chosen ahead of other big names
Shastri was an automatic entrant for the head coach role, while other big names were shortlisted as well. While he was a strong favorite to be retained, the likes of Mike Hesson, Tom Moody, Lalchand Rajput and Robin Singh too couldn't be ruled out either. However, the CAC panel, after strong consultations, decided to retain Shastri, following positive feedback from the current players.
Ganguly warns Shastri to win 'big games'
Ganguly has said that the current team has enormous talent and capability. However, he has also warned Shastri that he needs to start winning big matches and tournaments to justify his re-appointment as the head coach. "A team that has Virat [Kohli], Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant and Shikhar Dhawan is not short on talent," said Ganguly during a Mumbai event.
'They will have to find a way to win knockouts'
"They will have to find a way to win knockout games. That is the puzzle they need to solve. They need some luck, take some risks and find a way," added Ganguly.
Ganguly backs Shastri as the right man to coach India
Speaking further on Shastri's re-appointment as the India head coach, Ganguly firmly backed him for the role. He also added that the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) did not have many options either 'as not many had applied'. "Ravi has been doing this for five years. I don't think anyone else in history has got such a long time with the team," Ganguly continued.
'He's the right choice, but he now has to justify'
"He is the right choice, but he now has to justify. He has two T20 World Cups ahead and in such big tournaments, India needs to find ways to win them," Ganguly concluded.
India won historic first-ever Test series in Australia under Shastri
While India have had many ups under Shastri, their biggest achievement under him came in Australia, earlier this year, when they won their first-ever historic Test series Down Under. Asides that, Ganguly also praised India's run to the semis in the 2019 ICC World Cup under him, however, termed the semi-final exit as 'an underachievement'.
