Ravi Shastri says 'inevitable' that India might upset Test rivals over domestic focus

Former Indian captain Ravi Shastri has said that it might be inevitable that India will upset its Tests rivals like Australia, New Zealand and South Africa if it pushes to play more international matches at home between October and April, which clashes with the home seasons of the three countries.

The powerful Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is talking about staging more international games at home during their domestic season, a move that will send shivers through countries, including Australia, that share seasons with the superpower.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Cricket Australia's (CA) officials are aware of the influential BCCI's desire to maximise revenue from its television contracts during its peak season, with the Indian board cutting down December's tour to South Africa leading to catastrophic financial results for Cricket South Africa (CSA).

However, Shastri, who sits on a BCCI technical committee, said that India should have its own domestic season, just like Australia and South Africa does as a matter of economics, adding that there has to be some give-and-take as seasons of India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa all clash.

CA has been ridiculed for touring India for a seven-game ODI series before the winter Ashes, while England is assured of a superior preparation, arriving in Australia early enough to play three warm-up games before the first Test, the report added.