‘They cannot let off their guard’: Shastri feels India still have room for improvement at World Cup

Team India secured an emphatic one-sided victory over South Africa, on Sunday, in match number 37 of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. The Proteas were seen as the biggest challenge for this Indian unit, who have been running riot on the field. However, it turns out South Africa also perished the same way Sri Lanka, England, and Pakistan had crumbled earlier in the tournament.

3 things you need to know

• Team India decimated South Africa by 243 runs in match number 37 of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023
• Team India is certain to top the round-robin stage
• Team India is undefeated after 8 matches and is left to play only Netherlands before the semi-final

Ravi Shastri stresses the need for incessant improvement

With this win, hopes are ever-high for Team India, and Rohit Sharma and co. are just three more victories away from lifting the eminent ICC ODI World Cup trophy. However, the dreadful memories of the 2019 World Cup might still be afresh in the minds of players and fans. Thus, the stage has arrived where the margin for error is none.  

Ravi Shastri, who was the head coach when Team India suffered the painful loss against New Zealand in the semi-final of the ODI World Cup 2019, has highlighted that India must not put a brake on their intensity, and should keep looking for improvements.

“They have not dropped their guard. Neither have they dropped their intensity in any way. Tribute must be given to that entire unit because they know, a lot of them know this could be the last World Cup and they realise that they cannot let off their guard and they’ve got to put their best foot forward and win game after game.”

Ravi Shastri highlights the role bowlers played in India’s dominant run in World Cup 2023

Shastri showered praise on Team India for the way they have played till now and credited the success to the bowlers.

“People might say you’re peaking early. You never peak early. There’s always room for improvement in every game. Even today, the Indian team would believe there’s room for improvement, which is such a good sign when you’re beating teams the way you are. So I think they’re in an excellent space. What’s great to see is the intensity of the bowling unit. Even in these conditions, they came out there and all the five bowlers did their job,” said Shastri.