Losing The World Test Championship Final For Me Was The Biggest Disappointment In My Tenure – Ravi Shastri

Published - 12 Jan 2022, 12:20 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:03 AM

Ravi Shastri. (Credits: Twitter)

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has revealed that the “biggest disappointment” for him in his tenure as a head coach was losing the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand.

Under head coach Ravi Shastri India achieved a lot of success in world cricket across all three formats of the game. In Test cricket, India became a dominant force as they won back-to-back series in Australia and were leading by 2-1 in England before the tour got postponed. Also, India finished at the top of ICC Test team rankings for five years in a row.

However, during Ravi Shastri’s stint as a head coach India were unable to win an ICC Trophy despite reaching the knockout stage of several tournaments.

We Should Have Drawn It At Least – Ravi Shastri On WTC Final

India, New Zealand, Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, ICC WTC, ICC WTC Final, ICC, ICC World Test Championship, ICC World Test Championship Final — Captains of the two finalists of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship, Kane Williamson and Virat Kohli pose with the Test Mace ahead of the final at the Hampshire Bowl, Southampton. (Photo: Twitter/ICC)

India lost the WTC final by 8 wickets against Kane Williamson-led New Zealand at the Rose Bowl, Southampton. Losing the toss India were invited to bat first and no batter was able to reach the 50-run mark and kiwi pacer Kyle Jamieson bagged a 5-wickets haul and India were bowled out for 217 runs. In the second innings, Indian batters once again failed and India were bundled out for 170 runs. New Zealand got the 140 runs to target to chase and they easily manage to chase it with the help of good knocks by Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor to become the World Test Champions.

Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri — Ravi Shastri [Image: Twitter]

Meanwhile, Ravi Shastri feels that India didn’t deserve to lose the WTC final game and the game should have at least ended in a draw.

“Losing the World Test Championship final for me was the biggest disappointment in my tenure because we didn’t deserve to lose that game. We should have drawn it at least. Because of the kind of cricket we had played for five years, to be No. 1 for five years is no joke,” the former India coach said on the ‘Bold and Brave: Ravi Shastri Way’ show on Star Sports.

“As much as you want to take about the preparation, the quarantine, the conditions that existed there, New Zealand already being in England… we had no business to lose that game. So that was disappointing, to say the least.”

Also Read: Ashes 2021-22: We Don’t Have To Sledge To Impress Anyone – Pat Cummins On Why Australia Toned It Down

Get All Cricket match prediction and fantasy Tips – CLICK HERE