New Delhi: India is a flexible side with enough ammunition in its arsenal going into the World Cup, says head coach Ravi Shastri, making it clear that combinations would depend on conditions.
“I think we have got all bases covered. Last thing you want is passengers on the tour. You want to have in those 15 players … who can play anytime, at any given time. If there is a major injury to a fast bowler, there will be a replacement almost straight away,” he said.
The ICC ODI World Cup will be played in the United Kingdom from 30 May to 14 July.
All-rounder Kedar Jadhav suffered an injury during then IPL, where key wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadavâs lack of form also came under the scanner but Shastri said, “it doesnât worry me at all.”
“In-fact I am totally blanked out from that. When the flight takes off on the 22 May, we will see who are the 15 on that and just take it from there. Luckily in Kedarâs case, there is no fracture so we will wait and watch. There is still time so it should be ok,” he said.
Shastri said a team canât pre-plan for a big event like the World Cup and the four years leading up to the tournament is the time to prepare.
“In these big tournaments…. You go with the flow, you react spontaneously to different situations and the four years that have gone in between the World Cup, thatâs what prepares teams,” he said.
The former captain handpicked West Indies and Australia to watch out for in the showpiece event.
“When they (West Indies) were in India I said we might have beaten them but we had a tough series and they played some excellent cricket. And I said that at the given time, there was no (Chris) Gayle, there was no (Andre) Russell in that side,” Shastri said.
“The power hitting there is something that no team comes close. When it comes to the sheer ability to hit sixes, they are way up the ladder there.”