Former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri humorously referred to India as the “big daddy of world cricket” in the latest episode of the Willow Talk podcast in Sydney. Shastri also said that Indian cricketers should participate in overseas leagues to be exposed to different conditions and play alongside international stars.
The cricketer-turned-commentator’s comments came ahead of the India-Australia white-ball series. According to the schedule, the tour begins with the first ODI match in Perth on Sunday, October 19th. Shubman Gill’s side will play two more ODIs before the five-match T20I series.
India is the big daddy of world cricket – Ravi Shastri
In the latest Willow Talk podcast from Sydney, the host described India as the “daddy of world cricket”. Ravi Shastri humorously corrected him and declared, “India is the big daddy of world cricket”, drawing laughter from the host.
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The BCCI does not allow active Indian cricketers to play in overseas T20 leagues. According to the rules, only players who have retired from domestic and international cricket can participate in overseas tournaments if they receive a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the board.
Ravichandran Ashwin has signed a contract with the Big Bash League (BBL) and will represent Sydney Thunder next season.
Not everyone gets a chance to play – Ravi Shastri
In the same podcast, Ravi Shastri said that active Indian cricketers should join overseas franchise leagues. He said playing in a foreign environment and sharing a changing room with international stars will provide valuable experience and help players improve their skills.
Shastri said India has a huge talent pool and although not every player can make it to the Test team, they should still be given an opportunity through lower-tier contracts to get exposure. He pointed out that the IPL has helped young Indian players develop by competing against world-class talent.
“India is a big country. Not everyone will get a chance to play, not everyone will get through. So why stop players who don’t make it to the Test side and give them Level C and Level D contracts?” Shastri said on the Willow Talk podcast.
“That exposure will help him when he returns, just as the IPL has helped many young players rub shoulders with top-class players,” he added.
There is no better education than going abroad – Ravi Shastri
Ravi Shastri emphasized that the Indian players are gaining valuable experience by playing alongside international cricketers and learning from legendary personalities who could be part of the coaching team.
“They are learning to deal with pressure. Also, they can rub shoulders with big international stars and international players like Ponting and Fleming,” Shastri said.
“It’s an education. And for me, there’s no better education than going abroad. The experience is great, not only in terms of cricket terminology, but in understanding different cultures and methods. You learn so much. The way West Indies train is different to the way Australia trains,” he added.
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