'They will be very serious challengers......' - Ravi Shastri bolsters Team India ahead of T20 World Cup 2024

Former India cricketer Ravi Shastri has backed Team India to win the World Cup soon. Notably, Rohit Sharma and Co. have lost the ODI World Cup 2023 final against Australia on November 19 at the iconic Nardendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad despite performing magnificently in the league stage and in the semi-final of the marquee event.

The well-renowned cricket commentator feels that the Men in Blue will be winning the World Cup very soon. In addition, the former India head coach accepted that it might not be the 50-over, but India possesses great chances to win the T20 World Cup, thanks to their great form in the shortest format of the game. The legendary cricketer affirms Team India to shift their focus in 2024 T20 World Cup, slated to take place with a few months to go.

"I see India winning a World Cup very soon. It might not be a 50-overs (one) that easily because you have to again rebuild the side, but 20-overs cricket, the very next one India will be very serious challengers because you have got the nucleus, it's a shorter format of the game. Your focus should be on that," Ravi Shastri said.

You don't win World Cups easily: Ravi Shastri

However, the former India all-rounder accepted that the loss in the ODI World Cup 2023 final still hurts him a lot, as India were too good throughout the tournament. Ravi Shastri bolsted Team India by citing the example of Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar.

"To be honest, it still hurts from the outside, that we could not win the cup because we were the strongest team. The way the bowling stood up towards the mid stage of the tournament, you thought they had a great, great chance. But then nothing comes easy - even the great man Sachin Tendulkar had to wait (for) six World Cups to win one. You don't win World Cups (easily), to win a World Cup you have got to be damn good on that big day. What you did earlier does not count," he added further.