'Always believed India should never appoint a vice-captain': Shastri's 'blunt and brutal' verdict on KL Rahul situation

[sage]

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/always-believed-india-should-never-appoint-a-vice-captain-ravi-shastri-s-blunt-and-brutal-verdict-on-kl-rahul-situation-101677338453366.html

 

Ravi Shastri addressed the KL Rahul situation in great detail and had a rather unusual remark over the vice-captaincy role in the Indian Test team.

 

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri spoke in detail about Rahul's situation in the Indian team, and made a rather unusual statement on his vice-captain role. According to Shastri, there should be no vice-captain in the Indian team – at least for the home Tests.

“The team management will decide (the vice-captain). They know his (Rahul's) form, they know his mental state. They know how they should be watching someone like Shubman Gill. I, for one, always had the belief (to) never appoint a vice-captain for India. I would rather go with by best XI, and if captain has to leave the field, you'd zero in on a player that can take over at the time, simply because you don't need to create complications.” Shastri said on the ICC Review podcast.

“If vice-captain doesn't perform, someone can take his place; at least the tag is not there. I'm being blunt and brutal, I never like vice-captain in home condition. Overseas, it's different. Here, you want prime form, you want someone like Shubman Gill, who's red hot. He will challenge. He has to bang that door down and get into the side. Now, he's not the vice-captain, it has to be team management's decision,” Shastri further said.

Further talking on Rahul's form, Shastri said that while Rahul is a talented player, he needs to start converting it into performances.

“They will have to see form, his state of mind. He's a tremendous player, but talent is only so much. You have to convert that into results and be consistent. There's so much talent in India who is knocking the door. It's not just KL Rahul, there are many in middle-order and bowling lineup as well,” said the former India head coach.

[sage]

"Here, you want prime form, you want someone like Gill, who's red hot. He will challenge. He has to bang that door down and get into the side. Now, he's not the vice-captain, it has to be team management's decision," said Shastri.

The former India all-rounder said there is not dearth of talent in India and a player needs to be consistent to keep his place in team.

 

"They will have to see form, his state of mind. He's a tremendous player, but talent is only so much. You have to convert that into results and be consistent.

"There's so much talent in India who is knocking the door. It's not just Rahul, there are many in middle-order and bowling lineup as well, there is a lot of dept.” Shastri said a break can do a world of good for a player who is struggling with form.

 

"Sometimes a break for the player in those conditions is far better because he can go away work on his game and come back stronger.

"In my tenure, Pujara was dropped came back with hundreds, KL Rahul was dropped, came back strongly. You can't carry T20 form into Test cricket." WTC final will be different ball game but India will have a psychological edge." India have retained the Border Gavaskar Trophy after taking a 2-0 lead in the four match Test series. Another win will confirm their spot in the WTC final in England, where they are likely to meet Australia again.

 

Shastri feels although the conditions in England will be different, India will have a psychological edge over their rivals.

"There will be an impact but conditions will be different, Australia's fast bowlers will be back fully fit then there is different ball game.

 

"But the psychological dent will make India believe that even in those conditions the can upstage Australia hopefully Jasprit Bumrah will be back, Shami is there and Siraj has been bowling beautifully.

"A 4-0 win here will psychologically send a strong signal." Lack of application and discipline among Australians was unreal

Australian batters have struggled to play Indian spinners. They suffered a dramatic batting collapse in the second Test, losing nine wickets for 52 runs in 90 minutes.

"I think application (has let them down) more than anything else. The lack of belief in their own defence. The lack of application and the lack of discipline was unreal and Australia paid for it big time," Shastri said.

He urged the Australians to go back to basics and spend time in the middle, defending the ball rather than attacking from the get go.

 

"... go back to the drawing board. If you don't trust your defence, you have no chance because that's when you entertain thoughts of breaking free, much quicker than you normally should. Sometimes you've got to spend some time at the crease, but how are you going to (do it) if you don't trust your defence? "But I didn't see one Australian batsman (do that). What surprised me was some of their most senior players also came out there and looked to do things out of the ordinary, something they're not used to far quicker than later. And especially in conditions that suit the Indians.

 

[vvvslaxman]

Sometimes keep on playing a player hoping he would turn it around will be counter-productive. Especially with respect to guys like Rahul. He will dig the hole deeper and deeper.  They have to make the selection policy more aggressive. This soft treatment of players won't push them to work harder.  Soft treatment reserved only for noobs who have potential. Not established players. 

[Vijy]

3 hours ago, vvvslaxman said:

Sometimes keep on playing a player hoping he would turn it around will be counter-productive. Especially with respect to guys like Rahul. He will dig the hole deeper and deeper.  They have to make the selection policy more aggressive. This soft treatment of players won't push them to work harder.  Soft treatment reserved only for noobs who have potential. Not established players. 

kela is still an "upcoming" and "young" player apparently

[putrevus]

Why do these idiot Dravids and Rohit think dropping Rahul is a crime. They did not drop him in world t20 when it was clear as daylight dropping him would have made Indian team better in an instant. They are doing the samething now, Gill is ready and in form and they are persisting with this bozo.

 

Dropping out of form player is a blessing in disguise for the player, it allows them to work on their issues without any limelight.Kohli is next player who should be kicked out.

Edited February 28, 2023 by putrevus

[raki05]

21 hours ago, putrevus said:

Why do these idiot Dravids and Rohit think dropping Rahul is a crime. They did not drop him in world t20 when it was clear as daylight dropping him would have made Indian team better in an instand. They are doing the samething now, Gill is ready and in form and they are persisting with this bozo.

 

Dropping out of form player is a blessing in disguise for the player, it allows them to work on their issues without any limelight.Kohli is next player who should be kicked out.

I have seen one post couple of days back where someone said his test form is not so good right now, however he is good in T20 and legendary in odi.