New Delhi: India are a flexible side with enough ammunition in their arsenal going into the World Cup, says head coach Ravi Shastri, making it clear that combinations would depend on conditions.
When Vijay Shankar was picked in the 15-man squad, it was largely perceived that the Tamil Nadu all-rounder could bat at crucial number four position but Shastri said there is not one player, who is certain to play in that position. “We are a flexible team. It’s horses for courses, we have got enough ammunition. We have got enough players who can bat at 4. So, I am not really worried about that,” Shastri said. “I think we have got all bases covered. Last thing you want is passengers on the tour. You want to have in those 15 players … who can play anytime, at any given time. If there is a major injury to a fast bowler, there will be a replacement almost straight away,” he said in an interview with CricketNext. The ICC ODI World Cup will be played in the United Kingdom from May 30 to July 14. All-rounder Kedar Jadhav suffered an injury during then IPL, where key wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav’s lack of form also came under the scanner but Shastri said, “it doesn’t worry me at all.” “In-fact I am totally blanked out from that. When the flight takes off on the 22nd, (May) we will see who are the 15 on that and just take it from there.
Luckily in Kedar’s case, there is no fracture. There is still time so it should be ok,” he said. Shastri said a team can’t pre-plan for a big event like the World Cup and the four years leading up to the tournament is the time to prepare. “In these big tournaments…. You go with the flow, you react spontaneously to different situations and the four years that have gone in between the World Cup, that’s what prepares teams,” he said. (PTI)