'India or IPL? If you say franchise cricket then forget WTC final': Shastri
Speaking to Star Sports, Shastri was left fuming at Team India asking them to set their priorities right between IPL and national duty.
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Throughout the first two days of the World Test Championship final against India, Australia made batting appear effortless on the green-topped Oval pitch, while Rohit Sharma and his team were unable to replicate this. With the exception of Ajinkya Rahane, Shardul Thakur, and Ravindra Jadeja to a lesser extent, none of the other batsmen appeared prepared to face the Australian attack.
The top order of the Indian team, consisting of the captain, Virat Kohli, and Cheteshwar Pujara, scored only 71 runs in 18.2 overs, resulting in the loss of four wickets. Following the top-order collapse, former India coach Ravi Shastri made a scathing remark about IPL aimed at the India batters and BCCI.
The bowlers conceded 469 runs in the first innings before India was dismissed in rapid succession. Three of the top-order batsmen had just returned from the Indian Premier League, and two of them were in excellent form with a century spree. However, they were unable to replicate their white-ball form in the traditional format, which harmed India.
In an interview with Star Sports, Shastri was enraged by Team India's request that they prioritize IPL over national duty. He said: "You must establish your priorities, right? What is the precedence? India or cricket franchises? You must determine this. If you mean franchise cricket, you can forget about the WTC final. If this is significant, then the BCCI is in charge as the sport's steward. There should be a clause in the IPL contract that gives India the right to pull a player from the league if they deem it necessary.
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"First, set the clause in place, and then ask the franchises how much they wish to invest. This is a crucial point. You are the sport's custodian. You dominate cricket in the nation," he added.
This is not the first time that Shastri has brought up this subject. In fact, he has repeatedly exhorted the Indian players destined for the WTC final to manage their workload and maintain their form during the arduous IPL season. In fact, a similar message was sent to the BCCI and the selectors in an effort to interfere with the franchises and their proceedings in preparation for the WTC final.
