Extremely important for the coach and the captain to have a say in the team selection: Ravi Shastri

According to the former India head coach Ravi Shastri, the captain and the coach should put forward their opinion on the team selection. He reckoned that going ahead apart from the selectors they too should have a say in the proceedings.

The duo of Shastri and Kohli had an impressive run wherein team India registered some historic wins. They blew the trumpet of their dominance in Test cricket when they defeated Australia at their home twice. The team then dominate the proceedings against England earlier this year to take a 2-1 lead in the Test series which was paused after the Covid outbreak in the Indian camp.

However, though the side reached close on many occasions the drought for the ICC trophy glory continued. After Shastri’s stint with the team ended after the T20 World Cup 2021, Rahul Dravid was appointed as the head coach of the side.

Ravi Shastri reckons captain and coach should have their say in the team selection

“I think it is extremely important for the coach and the captain to have a say in the team selection, officially going forward. It is very important especially if the coach is experienced enough. I was, Rahul (Dravid is), and the captain should also have a say,” Ravi Shastri said on a Star Sports show.

Shastri had previously stated that he wasn’t in favor of having three wicket-keepers in the side for the 2019 World Cup. According to him, an extra batter should have been included in the squad.

“I wasn’t okay with three wicketkeepers being picked for the World Cup. Either Ambati (Rayudu) or Shreyas (Iyer) could’ve come in. What was the logic in having MS Dhoni, Rishabh (Pant), and Dinesh (Karthik) altogether? But I never interfered with the selectors’ work, except when I was asked for feedback or as part of a general discussion.”

Sanjay Bangar who had served as a batting coach under Shastri also opened up on the matter. “When you are picking an Indian team I feel that the selectors have the final say but they are also always in discussion with the captain and the head coach. Whatever decisions are taken, they generally become a collective decision and not a decision of a single individual,” he said on Star Sports.