"Never going to happen": Ravi Shastri's explosive 'IPL' remark after India's loss in ICC WTC final

Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has come up with a reality check.

The Indian Premier League has come into the hotspot once again after India’s WTC Final loss against Australia. India failed to challenge the Australians at The Oval to lose their second consecutive World Test Championship Final. India suffered a crushing defeat of 209 runs at The Oval. The wait for an ICC Trophy has been extended once again, India last won an ICC tournament in 2013, when they won ICC Champions Trophy in England.

Since then they have lost 4 consecutive finals and 3 semifinals in the last 9 ICC tournaments. Questions have come up regarding the Indian team’s preparation before the big game. The Indian team had just a week to regroup and strategies for the big final. Most of the players were busy playing in the Indian Premier League. 

Ravi Shastri talks about Team India's preparation

Former Indian Coach Ravi Shastri has responded to a question regarding team India’s preparation for the game as current Indian coach Rahul Dravid said. Dravid batted for three weeks of preparation with 2 side games. Talking about keeping a significant gap between IPL and big tournaments, Ravi Shastri said, “That’s never going to happen, Let’s be realistic. You are going to get 20 days, but if that’s the case, you are going to miss the IPL. It will be the player's choice”. Shastri further added, “Up to the Establishment as well, I am sure the BCCI is going to review this in the future as well”. 4 members of the current World Test Championship Final squad were participating in the IPL 2023 final which went on for three days due to rain and finished around 3-4 AM on 30th May. 

Ravi Shastri has suggested for a few clauses in the IPL participation if any major ICC event is scheduled right after the league. He said, “If the WTC Final is going to come after the IPL, in the month of June, for that season, if your team qualifies for the final, there should be certain clauses put in for the franchise”. More than half of the squad was involved in the IPL Playoffs, which took place in the last week of May month. Team India arrived in England in two parts. Rohit Sharma also talked about the lack of preparation before the big World Test Championship Final against Australia. He cited an example of the last England tour where India did well with three weeks of preparation and a few side games.