Legendary West Indies batsman Brian Lara has issued a cautionary note to India and their head coach Rahul Dravid ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024. Emphasizing the importance of strategic planning, Lara advised against over-reliance on superstars in the tournament.

India, despite naming an experienced squad for the global event, haven’t clinched the T20 World Cup title since its inception in 2007. With the tournament set to be jointly hosted by the USA and West Indies, Rohit Sharma’s Indian team aims to reverse their fortunes this time.

“Sometimes when you have a team with a lot of superstars, you forget the plan…”

Lara, speaking to PTI, acknowledged the absence of a few young talents in the Indian squad but advocated for trust in experienced players during major tournaments.

“Sometimes when you have a team with a lot of superstars, you forget the plan and you believe that the superstars can do it. They just have to turn up. Sometimes you may feel, as a coach, intimidated, telling Sir Vivian Richards or Virat Kohli, you know exactly what you expect of them,” Lara added.

“Obviously when you have such great players, you want to stick to that experience because you feel that they can do it and there’s nothing wrong with it,” he said referring to Kohli and Rohit.

He noted the challenge Dravid faces in managing the star-studded team, suggesting that with proper planning, India, under Rohit Sharma’s leadership, could emerge victorious in the upcoming edition.

“You’ve got a lot of exciting young players coming out and you also have that sort of conundrum. India have gone with a team that has experience. My advice, and it’s not my criticism, it’s my advice, to Rahul Dravid is to make sure and have a plan,” Lara stated.

He added, “The team is capable of winning the World Cup. Yes, it’s a team that have maybe a couple of youngsters missing because of the situation. But I still believe that if they plan properly. India could win the World Cup.”

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India’s T20 World Cup squad update

India’s T20 World Cup squad boasts a formidable lineup, with Rohit Sharma leading the charge as captain, ably supported by Virat Kohli and promising talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Suryakumar Yadav in the batting department. Behind the stumps, the team relies on the dynamic duo of Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson to provide stability and firepower.

Hardik Pandya assumes the role of vice-captain, bringing his all-round prowess alongside Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja, ensuring depth and flexibility in both batting and bowling. The bowling attack features the spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, complemented by the pace of Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Mohammed Siraj, offering a potent mix of skills to tackle any opposition in the quest for T20 World Cup glory.