We don’t always want to come from behind: Ravi Shastri

The Indian cricket team has been the master of counterattacking for a while now. The recently concluded series own under was perhaps the perfect example. India went down 4-1 in the ODI series only to go on and win 3-0 in the T20Iseries. The Indian team director Ravi Shastri however, has had enough of the ‘coming from behind’ drama and insists the importance of going ahead in a series.

“We don’t want to always come from behind. Sometimes we want to start also well. So hopefully, we’ll be looking to do that in this tournament. Like I said, every game from now is important before the World Cup. Yes, we are playing the Asia Cup but the momentum is good so it’s important to keep that momentum going,” Ravi Shastri said to the media in Fatullah.

Shastri has always been the go-to man for the BCCI during a crisis. He was roped into the coaching staff in 2007 following India’s disastrous World Cup campaign in the West Indies. The BCCI once again turned to him when the Indian side failed to notch up any favorable Test results overseas. Therefore, it would be ideal for Shastri if the Indians could get off to a winning start with the World T20 around the corner.

Team India’s first assignment will be the Asia Cup T20. They will take on a resurgent Bangladesh in the first match of the tournament, a team that has become a threat lately.

Speaking about India’s previous tour of Bangladesh, Shastri said that he had forgotten about it. “That was eight months ago, I’ve already forgotten about it. here’s been plenty of cricket since. Ask about what’s been going on in the last two months. Anything before that, I don’t have in my memory,” he said.

Ravi Shastri also went on to commend the growth of Bangladeshi cricket and stated that they are now a force to be reckoned with.

“I’ve seen cricket in Bangladesh grow, I’ve come here right through the 90s as a broadcaster. I’m happy to see the way cricket has developed and I’m happy to see the Bangladesh has evolved as a team. No team can take them lightly as they showed last year playing one-day cricket and tribute to them. So they have the respect of every opposition and India will be no different.”

An update was also provided on the fitness of MS Dhoni. The Indian skipper had suffered from a spasm in his back, an injury that cast a doubt over his participation in the Asia Cup.

MS Dhoni is recovering well. He will be assessed tomorrow before taking a final call: BCCI #AsiaCup2016

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) February 23, 2016