Make use of the rich talent pool and follow England's T20 template, Ravi Shastri to team India

Wellington: Veteran cricketer and former Head Coach, Indian cricket team, Ravi Shastri said that the team should utilise the rich talent pool it has, as the road for 2024 World Cup begins with the Hardik Pandya-led side taking on New Zealand in a three-match T20 series starting on Friday. Further, he advised team India to follow the T20 template of England as they have managed to excel in the white ball cricket format.

"There is an opportunity with this team in the future to identify roles for players, see the match winners as well as their duties, and going pretty much on the template of England. Because they are one team that really caught the bull by its horns after 2016," he said.

"They went, they sat down and said, 'We are going to change our resources. We are going to identify the best players for that format of the game, whether it's T20 or 50-over cricket'," said Shastri in a virtual press conference organised by Prime Video.

Speaking further about how England brought about a transformation, especially in T20 cricket, Shastri said: "Which meant that if there were certain senior players who would sit out, then be it. And they got in youngsters who were fearless, who could adapt to that pattern of the game without having to change too much.

"So it's a template that can be followed easily. India have got a wealth of resources and I think it can start now from this tour. Because when you look at this team, it's a fresh, young side, you can identify, groom and take this team ahead in two years' time."

Shastri was in total agreement with stand-in head coach VVS Laxman's comments earlier in the day that India would need to play the specialist players in their 20 over commitments in future.

- Based on IANS feed