Team India had a great performance in the year 2021. Be it at home or abroad, the Virat Kohli-led team was a force to be reckoned with on the field. It was the best time in the longest format as they had not lost a series in the previous calendar year. However, missing out on two ICC titles would be known as a couple of downs. After losing the rain-hit World Test Championship final to New Zealand in Southampton, the team was knocked out of the T20 World Cup in the UAE without making it to the semi-finals.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri recalled India’s horrific experience in the tournament. Successive defeats to Pakistan and New Zealand technically ruled out the Men in Blue. India failed to enter the knockouts; Something that happened after 8 years.
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Speaking with Star Sports Network, Shastri admitted that the team’s ‘timid and tentative’ approach cost him the tournament.
“Pakistan played well that day and against New Zealand, we were timid. We were very scared. It showed up in the game. We were temporary rather than hugging. You don’t mind losing as long as you’re throwing punches. But it hurts more if you are sneaky and tentative. And in such tournaments if you lose too early you are in trouble,” Shastri told Star Sports.
Referring to India’s campaign in the tournament, Shastri said the format implemented in the 2019 World Cup should be the way forward, where each team plays everyone else.
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“It is not like the format of 2019, where you can play every opposition. I think this is the way forward. If you want to decide the World Cup then that format is the best, and then the playoffs ideally,” concluded Shastri.
After losing to Pakistan and New Zealand, India made a comeback by defeating Afghanistan, Scotland and Namibia. But all the late efforts went in vain as the Black Caps qualified with a high net run rate.
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