India’s match against Namibia in ICC T20 World Cup 2021 was also the end of Ravi Shastri’s tenure as the head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team. India might have failed to win an ICC trophy under Shastri, but the team, led by Virat Kohli, scaled new heights in all three formats of the game. After India’s win over Namibia, Shastri delivered an inspiring speech in the dressing room where he told the players how proud he was for what the team had achieved in the last 5-6 years.
Shastri, who has delivered many such speeches during his tenure, said the team will go down as one of the greatest teams for the way it had performed in the different parts of the world across the three formats.
“You guys as a team have over exceeded my expectations with the way you have played. Over the last few years, to go across the globe, across all formats, and beat everyone, makes you one of the great teams that have played the game. This will go down as one of the great teams that have played the game over the last 5-6 years across all formats because there are results to be seen,” Shastri said.
Must Watch: A stirring speech to sign off as the #TeamIndia Head Coach 👏 👏
Here's a snippet from @RaviShastriOfc's team address in the dressing room, reflecting on the team's journey in the last few years. 👍 👍 #T20WorldCup #INDvNAM
Watch 🎥 🔽https://t.co/x05bg0dLKH pic.twitter.com/IlUIVxg6wp
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 9, 2021
India had a poor start in the T20 World Cup 2021 where two successive losses against Pakistan and New Zealand dented their hopes of making it to the semi-final. The team bounced back to register three successive wins but New Zealand’s win over Afghanistan ousted Kohli’s men from the tournament.
Shastri added that while the team could have won one or two ICC trophies under his tenure, for him, it’s more about what one overcomes than the accomplishments.
“Yes, we did not have a great tournament. We could have won one or two ICC tournaments, didn’t happen. But that’s sport. You will get another chance. You will be wiser and more experienced when the next opportunity comes. But, for me, the most important thing in life is not what you accomplish, it’s what you overcome that overrides everything else,” Shastri added.
Shastri also lauded the players for battling past the tough Covid times and said the obstacles will only make the players stronger to play at the highest level. (TimesNow)