Former Australian pacer Michael Kasprowicz has been impressed by the present Indian national cricket team. He also likes Virat Kohli’s captainship quality.
The Indian national cricket team did some amazing things during their recent Australian tour. After a long wait, India finally managed to win their first ever Test series in Australia. In that four-match Test series, India won with the 2-1 margin. The visiting side India mostly dominated in that series. Also, they won their first ever bilateral ODI series in Australia by the 2-1 margin. Meanwhile, the T20I series remained to draw by the 1-1 margin.
Kasprowicz is currently busy at Chepauk (Chennai) to taking the part of the joint initiative between the Australian Consulate-General and the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association. Recently, at there, the former Australian pacer spoke about the Indian skipper and his side.
He was asked about the biggest differences between the present Indian team and past Indian teams those travelled in Australia. In reply, the 46-year-old said according to Sportstar, “Confidence. Not just confident individually, but confident as a team.”
Kasprowicz, who bowled a lot of overs to the legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, finds similarity between Tendulkar and Kohli.
He quoted, “Tendulkar was so balanced. He was neither stretched forward fully nor was completely back. I can see a similar balance in Kohli.”
At further, Kasprowicz believes that the leader Virat Kohli motivates the entire Indian cricket team. Talking about Virat Kohli’s captaincy quality, Kasprowicz has found the similarity with the World Cup-winning former Australian captain Steve Waugh.
The former international cricketer added, “He leads by example, motivates his men, drives them hard. Kohli’s methods remind me of Steve Waugh.”
Cheteshwar Pujara and Jasprit Bumrah impressed Kasprowicz
Cheteshwar Pujara played a vital role in the Test series in Australia. He was the leading run-scorer in that Test series as he scored 521 runs in seven innings with an average of 74.42. The right-handed top-order batsman hit three centuries in that series and guided the team in most of the times.
Praising Pujara, Kasprowicz said, “He was excellent with shot selection and wore down the attack. There were no cover-drives on the up from him.”
The 25-year-old Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah was another man who played the crucial role for the visiting side in that Test series. Jasprit Bumrah was the joint leading wicket-taker in that series as he took 21 wickets and had an impressive average of just 17.00.
Speaking about Bumrah, the former Aussie pacer said, “He doesn’t give batsmen time. He has a short run-up, generates pace, extracts bounce and is back for the next delivery before the batsman can really settle in his stance. He hurries them up. Bumrah has an unusual action but his seam position is so good.”
I think it is an open World Cup: Kasprowicz
Talking about Australia’s performances in that Test series, Kasprowicz feels that the bowlers failed to create consistent pressure against the visiting side.
He said, “We were unable to create pressure with accuracy like a McGrath would. We gave too many scoring opportunities.”
However, the Australian cricketer Pat Cummins has impressed him through his all-rounder performances. Kasprowicz believes that Cummins will become a future leader in the Australian team.
Kasprowicz told about Cummins, “He is not only a future Australian star all-rounder but also a future leader in the Australian team.”
The former Aussie pacer also believes that Steven Smith and David Warner‘s return will build up a stronger Australian side. Kasprowicz feels that the defending champions Australia will start the upcoming Cricket World Cup as an ‘underdog’.
Talking about the World Cup prediction, Kasprowicz said, “I think, it is an open World Cup.”
The 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup is set to begin on 30 May, and it will run till 14 July. England and Wales will host the 12th edition of World Cup tournament.