Take Playing in Subcontinent Seriously: Ravi Shastri to England after CT Exit
The recent Champions Trophy 2025 has been marred by several surprises, with England’s shock exit at the hands of Afghanistan being one of the most notable ones. The Three Lions were expected to make it to the semi-finals, but their lackluster performance against the Afghans saw them knocked out of the tournament. Now, former India head coach Ravi Shastri has slammed England for their poor showing in the subcontinent, stating that they need to take playing in these conditions seriously if they want to be recognized as a team that can travel.
Shastri’s comments came after England’s defeat, with the ex-coach saying, “Only then will you be recognised as a team that can travel. Take playing in the subcontinent seriously without making excuses.” These words of wisdom from Shastri are a harsh reality check for England, who have struggled to adapt to the conditions in the region.
England’s struggles in the subcontinent are nothing new. The team has often found themselves struggling to cope with the slow and spin-friendly pitches, which are a staple of the region. In the past, teams like India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka have dominated the English team in these conditions, and it seems that little has changed.
Shastri’s comments have been echoed by other experts, with former England captain Michael Vaughan also expressing his surprise at the team’s shock exit. Vaughan, who has been a vocal critic of England’s inability to adapt to subcontinent conditions, said, “I’m not surprised by the result. They’ve been struggling in these conditions for a long time, and it’s a problem that needs to be addressed.”
So, what exactly is the problem that England faces in the subcontinent? For starters, the team’s batting lineup has struggled to cope with the slow and turning pitches. England’s batsmen have often found themselves struggling to score runs, with the opposition spinners exploiting their weaknesses with ease.
Furthermore, England’s pace attack has also struggled to make an impact in the subcontinent. The team’s seamers have often found themselves struggling to generate pace and bounce, which has left them at the mercy of the opposition batsmen.
To make matters worse, England’s fielding has also been a major concern. The team’s fielders have often dropped crucial catches, which has cost them dearly in big matches.
So, what can England do to improve their performance in the subcontinent? For starters, the team needs to work on its batting lineup. This means selecting batsmen who have the ability to play spin, and also working on their technique to ensure that they can score runs on slow and turning pitches.
Furthermore, England’s pace attack needs to be revamped. The team needs to select seamers who can generate pace and bounce, and also work on their skills to ensure that they can take wickets on slow and turning pitches.
Finally, England’s fielding needs to improve. The team needs to select fielders who are agile and can take catches with ease. This means selecting players who have the ability to field at short mid-wicket, and also working on their skills to ensure that they can take catches with ease.
In conclusion, Ravi Shastri’s words of wisdom are a harsh reality check for England. The team needs to take playing in the subcontinent seriously if they want to be recognized as a team that can travel. This means selecting batsmen who can play spin, revamping the pace attack, and improving the fielding. Only then will England be able to compete with the best teams in the region.
