Former India wicket-keeper Deep Dasgupta has called for India to deprioritise WTC Final qualification and instead focus on building a dominant Test team capable of winning both overseas and home series.
Dasgupta's comments come as India navigates a transition phase in Test cricket, with questions emerging about the team's direction following recent series results.
"I want to see much more development. Are we improving? Yes, there is inexperience, and it is a transition, but it is important to see the improvement.
Infact, I am going to say something that people may not like this, but for the time being, it is better to forget about WTC Final Qualification. It is better not to talk about it. In my opinion, what we should instead focus on is, how to make the Indian Test team like the one in 2020-21, like that phase where India were winning overseas and winning home series as well," said Dasgupta on his YouTube channel.
"If you keep thinking about the WTC Final, then you might be looking to take shortcuts. You will just look to figure out ways to win that particular match or series. It is important, don't get me wrong, but somewhere or the other, you can also look at it from another way. We can think about how we can dominate the next WTC cycle instead. So, either we can walk now with a band-aid, or we can look to get some stitches and get some rest, and give our best with 100 percent fitness," he added.
Dasgupta conceded that questions would be raised following the home series loss. He noted that while the pressure will be immense, the team must remain clear about the direction in which it is heading.
"If the team does not do well, questions will be raised against him. Everyone in the team will be questioned because we have started to lose home series after a long time now, so that pressure will be there. But all of these names know how to handle pressure and play under pressure. When there is a transition, you need to know in which direction it is heading. It began with the England series, but I am a little confused about which direction we are heading?," Dasgupta concluded.
