Former India coach and noted commentator Ravi Shastri believes Gautam Gambhir can make an immediate impact in his new role as head coach because he’s a “contemporary” mentor and already close to the team.
“Why Surya was made the captain, because he is one of the deserving candidates. He’s been around the group over the last year, we get feedback from the dressing room a lot. (He has a) good cricket brain, and (is) one of the best T20 batters in the world,” Agarkar said.
The T20 World Cup-winning Indian cricket team landed in Delhi on Thursday morning after winning the World Cup title in Barbados.
Gambhir, when asked about his chances of succeeding Dravid for the top post, chose to remain noncommittal, adding to the mystery surrounding the potential coaching change.
Former England captain Eoin Morgan has backed India as the favourites to win the T20 World Cup but expressed his disagreement with the Indian selectors’ decision to relegate Shubman Gill as a travelling reserve for the marquee tournament in the US and the West Indies, starting June 1.
Shikhar Dhawan has been phenomenal for India in ICC tournaments. In World Cup 2015, Dhawan averaged 51.50 and amassed a total of 412 runs which included two hundreds. In ICC Champions Trophies from 2013-2017, Dhawan has a scarcely believable average of 77.88 and a total of 701 runs including three hundreds.
Bangladesh's top run-scorer Shakib Al Hasan has been in phenomenal form in this World Cup. Shakib leads the top scorer chart with 384 runs in four matches.
Following the defeat against India -- their seventh against the Men in Blue in all World Cups -- the entire Pakistani team is drawing heavy flak from both fans and former cricketers, with people singling out Sarfaraz for their rout against the arch-rivals.
India's hero of the match against Pakistan was "Hitman" Rohit Sharma who was aptly adjudged as the Player of the Match. Rohit not only made 140 runs but, in the process, played the biggest knock in India- Pakistan encounters in World Cup cricket.
Shankar picked up two wickets in the game. The Indian all-rounder's World Cup debut was splendid. Shankar bowled 5.2 overs and picked up two important wickets to change the course of the match. With the bat, Shankar was unbeaten on 15 in 15 balls.
