Ravi Shastri confirms India’s wicket-keeper for Australia

Ravi Shastri confirms India’s wicket-keeper for Australia: India’s Head Coach has aims at banking on current form. 

Ravi Shastri, Head Coach of the current Indian team, was overwhelmed at watching his team dominate the two-match series against Windies. In which was India’s first-ever 10-wicket victory against Windies, it aided the team to win their 10th consecutive series at home. Thus, becoming only the second team to do so.

“Lot of positives. When we’re playing at home it’s easy to get complacent. We wanted to develop on the good habits. Being professional, closing out the sessions. You get a partnership and drive home the advantage. That sort of stuff,” Shastri was quoted while speaking to Sanjay Manjrekar after the match.

Much like captain Virat Kohli, Shastri also went into raptures about India’s workhorse in Umesh Yadav, who registered his career-best Test match figures today. “It can be a frustrating profession when you sit on the bench like Umesh for 4 Tests. Only 11 can play.

“He got his opportunity here and I’m very happy for him. It’s been done only four times (ten-for for a pacer in India). What this will do is make him believe that he belongs. He can say now that he wants his place. That’s given us a headache. He was on target,” Shastri said about the 30-year old pacer.

Having scored 237 runs in two matches at an average of 118.50 and a strike rate of 94.04, Prithvi Shaw was adjourned the ‘Man of the Series’, thus becoming only the fourth Indian (after Sourav Ganguly, Ravichandran Ashwin and Rohit Sharma) to win the award in his first series.

Shastri spoke highly about the teenager, saying that he is born to play the game of cricket. Shastri also added that he sees a bit of three former cricketers in him and that he has a bright future ahead.

“Shaw is born to play cricket. You can see the years he has already put in at the age of 19. I believe he’s been playing since 8. That’s already a decade. When I saw him first, he reminded a bit of Sachin, and a bit of Viru – and when he walks, there’s a bit of Lara. If he can keep his head on his shoulders and keep the work ethic, he has a bright future,” he added.

Shaw’s opening partner in Lokesh Rahul failed to make a mark in the series, scoring 37 runs in two matches at an average of 18.50 and a strike rate of 45.12. “I think [KL Rahul] will be fine. He’s a world-class player. Sometimes he tries too hard. He works really hard on his game,” Shastri said regarding him not worrying much about Rahul.

Before ending the interview, Shastri gave a huge hint regarding who will India’s wicket-keeper be during their upcoming tour of Australia. He brought up this point while reaping praises on Pant. “Pant is another name [who impressed in the series]. He got his opportunity, he grabbed it, now he has consolidated it. [About Saha returning and challenging Pant] You can’t look in the past, you’ve got to go on current form,” he further added.

Read some of the overwhelming Twitter reactions on India’s victory below: