Press Trust of India
Mumbai, March 30: India’s team director Ravi Shastri called on the side’s under-performing batsmen to raise their game in the ICC World Twenty20 semifinal against West Indies here, and stated Wednesday that the hosts can’t rely on one or two individuals at this stage of the tournament.
Shastri hoped that batsmen such as Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina, after an indifferent run, step up and show their mettle Thursday at the Wankhede Stadium.
“I still believe we have played only 70 per cent to our abilities in this tournament. There are areas where we can still improve. Let’s hope it happens tomorrow (Thursday),” Shastri said at the match-eve media conference.
“In a semifinal you got to get your ‘A’ game in place. You can’t depend on one or two players, you need 6-7 players to step up and deliver. It has not happened so far in this tournament. Let’s hope it happens now,” Shastri added.
Shastri also said the team will miss injured Yuvraj Singh, both as a batsman and bowler. He however, informed that the replacement is yet to be decided.
“It (Yuvi’s absence) will have an impact. He’s had his moments and I thought his three overs were brilliant against Australia. It really put the brakes on scoring and allowed us to come back into the contest,” Shastri pointed out.
Shastri also informed that he had maintained before the tournament that the Windies, led by Darren Sammy and with Chris Gayle, are a dangerous side.
“I have said this at the beginning. They are probably one of the most dangerous sides in this format with explosive players, match-winners. We know what we are up against and we are up and ready as well. This is the semifinal, we can’t afford to misfire,” he asserted.
