Ravi Shastri’s big statement regarding T-20 World Cup: India will have to change the team combination after the crushing defeat by SA.

Chennai: Former head coach Ravi Shastri believes that the defeat in the first match of the Super Eight stage against South Africa has been an alarm bell for India and now it will have to reconsider the team combination. After losing by 76 runs to South Africa on Sunday, India now has to play Zimbabwe on Thursday. This also put an end to the 12-match winning streak since the last T20 World Cup.

Shastri said in the latest issue of ICC Review, “If you win 12 consecutive matches, a bad day is bound to come, but I am happy that it has come early. This was an urgent alarm bell for India. Due to this, the team will now have to rethink the strategy and combination. He said, “They must have learned a lesson from the past experience that things should not be taken lightly.” Losing another match will create a lot of pressure. Shastri advised the Indian team to go with an extra spinner.

He said, “Akshar Patel will have to be brought back.” You need his experience. I would say that both Akshar and Washington Sundar can play because some day some bowler will be in bad form. Like Varun Chakraborty was on Sunday.” He said, ”If Akshar plays, he will bat at number eight. Hardik Pandya is at fifth position and Shivam Dubey is at sixth position. If Sundar is at number seven then Akshar can also come at number five. If even eight batsmen are not able to perform in T20 cricket then something is wrong. In such a situation, the option of an additional bowler is important.

Great Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting said, “While listening to the commentary, the reason for keeping Akshar out was that there are many good batsmen in the opposing team but there are also right-handed batsmen.” In such a situation, Akshar could have been used by the captain at the right time.