Pleased by Indian bowler’s performance during the game against Pakistan Team India director Ravi Shastri said that it will serve them well if bowlers were to replicate their performance in the rest of the tournament.
Ahead of the crucial encounter against South Africa, Shastri was hoping for yet another good show from his bowlers.
"I am sure, our bowlers will do well. If they bowl well, bowl according to the plan, we will win many more matches,” said Shastri.
“If Pakistan was a big win, it was mainly because we had controlled aggression. We had a calculated plan which clicked and as a result of that, it became an easy win.
"We had a few plans, we tried our best to execute them. We wanted to have a left-right combination in the opening position.
“We gave a role to Virat that of the sheet anchor role. His role is that he will build the innings, and will more or less control the innings. He did that beautifully," revealed Shastri.
Shastri also revealed that he had assigned the role of a finisher to Suresh Raina.
Raina, who was promoted up the order, smashed a 54-ball 74, which included five boundaries and three sixes.
"Suresh Raina had been promoted to number 4. We have also given him a nice role. He can accelerate the run rate. I am very happy about his innings of 74 against Pakistan.
“The moment he started attacking Pakistan bowlers, the opposition surrendered," said Shastri.
Despite India’s poor show in the tri-series in Australia, Shastri believed that Indian team will pick itself up when the World Cup begins.
"Gradually we are progressing. When the team was not doing well, I assured everybody that we will definitely turn things around.
“This is just the beginning. This is not the time to talk. We have to go forward without talking. Let the results speak for us.
"I would like India to win all the matches. Every win will give us confidence. I still believe the warm-up match against Afghanistan has helped us to regroup well," reckoned Shastri.
Shastri also defended his side's decision to stay away from media during the World Cup.
"Our main job is to keep quiet, play good cricket and slowly inch towards the next round," said Shastri.
- Apostrophe Content and Entertainment
