Ravi Shastri Calls for Succession Plan After India's WTC Final Loss

Following India's resounding defeat in the World Test Championship final against Australia, former head coach Ravi Shastri emphasized the need for the team management and selectors to devise a succession plan. Shastri suggested drawing inspiration from the Australian side's approach of blending young talents with experienced players and preparing them for Test cricket.

India's next chapter in the 2023-2025 WTC cycle begins with a two-match series in the Caribbean on July 12. The first Test, scheduled to be held in Dominica, marks India's return to the venue after over a decade. The second and final Test will take place at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad from July 20.

The West Indies tour presents an opportunity for the Indian team to embark on a transition phase, considering the aging Test squad.

"The think-tank and selectors need to devise a plan, have the vision to replenish the squad. Australians have excelled at this over the years. They visualize where they want to be in three years' time. They don't wait for five players to suddenly depart from the side," Shastri shared with Star Sports after the WTC final.

Notably, Australia has successfully integrated young talents like Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, and Cameron Green into the setup alongside experienced players such as Steve Smith and David Warner, reaping the rewards of this balanced approach.

Shastri emphasized that the Indian selectors must make the "hard calls" while keeping the team's interests at the forefront.

"They constantly infuse youth. Thus, there's a continuous combination of youth and experience. The youngsters learn quickly from the senior players. This keeps the team healthy and strong throughout. Such planning needs to be done. These are tough decisions that may not please everyone, but the team's interest should be paramount, and that's how it should be approached," he stated.

India's captain, Rohit Sharma, also addressed the issue of succession planning.

"After any tournament, you start contemplating what you can do moving forward. Honestly, the game has just ended, and we haven't dwelled too much on our future plans. Discussions will happen, and we will consider what is required and what brand of cricket we want to play in the next two years," Rohit shared.

"We need to identify the players who can fulfill those roles for us. There are many talented players performing exceptionally well in domestic cricket. It's about identifying them, providing them with the right opportunities and time to excel. That will be our focus moving forward," he added.