Indian bowling coach Bharat Arun is confident about the Indian bowling line-up. He feels that the Indian national cricket team has the proper bowling line-up to win the upcoming World Cup.
England and Wales will host the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup that will run from 30th May to 14th July. The top ten teams will participate in this competition, including the two-time World Cup winners India.
The Indian bowling coach Bharat Arun believes that Indian bowling has been filled with proper bowlers in every aspect.
He told Sportstar, “We have the bowling to win the World Cup in England. We have the right kind of pacemen, wrist spinners, finger spinner and support bowlers.”
In recent years, India performed very well in every format of international cricket. But recently, they suffered a home ODI series defeat against Australia. Although they were leading the series by 2-0 at the initial stage, Australia finally stunned the world cricket by winning the series 3-2.
Bharat Arun credited the visiting side and added that those defeats taught them a lot.
He added, “Credit to the Aussies, they played well. But we were also using the series to try out different players and combinations before the World Cup. And the games were close. We got to know about the areas we need to improve. Sometimes a defeat teaches you a lot.”
We will be working closely with the bowlers during the IPL
Before the World Cup, the Indian cricketers will be busy in the two-month long IPL 2019. Bharat Arun claimed that they would work closely with the bowlers during the upcoming IPL season. He further added that every bowler had a specific programme to follow.
Bharat Arun said, “We will be working closely with the bowlers during the IPL. They will be given a specific programme to follow. We will be monitoring their fitness. Even if they face a minor fitness issue, the bowlers will report it to us.”
However, Bharat Arun doesn’t think that the franchises need to give rest the Indian bowlers during the upcoming IPL season. He is confident about the fitness of the Indian pacers.
He said, “I don’t think that will happen. That is under the purview of the franchises. But we will ensure that the bowlers are in good shape.
“Look, during the season, Jasprit Bumrah was given a break and he looked sharp even in the last game against Australia. Bhuvneshwar was rested and when he came back he was clocking 140 kmph which is a good sign. And Mohammed Shami, such a dangerous bowler, too was given a break.”
“There is a gap of more than 15 days between the IPL final and our first match in the World Cup. The boys will get some rest there too and an opportunity to become mentally refreshed.”
India has a formidable pace pack
Bharat Arun praised both the Indian pacers and spinners. The 56-year-old remarked the pace attack as a formidable while the spin attack supported them very well.
He said, “In Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar, India has two of the best ODI bowlers in world cricket. And Shami, with his speed and movement, can win you games. India has a formidable pace pack. And it is backed by a very good spin attack.”
About Hardik Pandya’s fitness
The bowling coach also opened up about the fitness of the Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya. The 25-year-old pace-bowling all-rounder missed out the recent home limited-overs series against Australia due to the back injury.
However, the bowling coach has revealed that they rested him as a precautionary measure due to the back spasm.
Bharat Arun said, “We rested him as a precautionary measure. He doesn’t have a fracture of the back, only a back spasm. It can be monitored and set right. He should be fit.”
Meanwhile, Bharat Arun is also working with another pace-bowling all-rounder Vijay Shankar. The bowling coach believes that Vijay Shankar can increase the bowling speed to make his bowling more powerful.
He added, “He (Vijay Shankar) is bowling at around 130 kmph now. He’s a big lad and is capable of bowling at 135 kmph. I wanted him to bowl straight, try and hit the stumps all the time and he’s doing that. He is a good addition to the team.”
We are very confident for the World Cup
Bharat Arun is confident about the entire Indian side for the upcoming World Cup.
He said, “We are very confident. This is a very good Indian team that will be going to the World Cup.”
India will begin their World Cup journey on 5th June against South Africa at Southampton.