Anil Kumble, former leg-spinner turned head coach of Indian cricket team, has stressed the importance of communication with out-of-form and injured players as according to him, it’s really important to keep a player motivated during this period.
“Communication is the key in any team activity, whether you are doing well, whether you are not doing well,” Kumble said.
“Communication with the players who have been injured is equally important as well, I’ve been through that as a player. So, I know exactly what goes through in a player’s mind when he’s injured and then watching the game when somebody else is playing there. Of course, all of us want the team to do well and the player who has replaced also to do well. But having said that, it is important to keep all of them in the loop,” he added.
Anil Kumble, who himself has seen many ups and downs during his 20-year career, played alongside players of the new generation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and in international cricket as well and his study on these guys has really helped him as he knows their attitude, behaviour pretty well by now. The results are visible on the field as well.
Talking of team combination for the first Test, though he did not give any clear indication of inclusion of Hardik Pandya, but yes, he weighed him as a great player possessing the talent he has to play the longest format of the game.
“I think Hardik is an extremely talented player. Even when he first came into IPL, he showed what he was capable of. Yes, the shorter format is totally different but I think the potential that Hardik has, all of have seen that. Whether it is a short glimpse in a T20 or even in the one-dayers, when he bowled in Dharamshala and then batted in Delhi, we could see that he is a quality player and that’s why we have backed him in this series as well… We all understand the importance of the fifth bowler and if someone can bowl at 140, and give you the option of batting really well lower down in the order, that’s a great option to have.”
On Karun Nair, Kumble said at some stage he will make his Test debut but it is still not confirmed whether Nair will play in Rajkot or will have to wait for few more games.
“I think Karun has done all the hard yards in domestic cricket, scoring runs heavily and also regularly and consistently. There was a little bit of a talk of not performing in [for] India A in Australia but what we are looking at is consistency… that’s why he was a part of the squad [against New Zealand]. And post that, since then, he has gone into Ranji Trophy and got those runs, got hundreds. So it has opened an opportunity for Karun because Rohit is now injured. I am sure he will get an opportunity and when he gets the opportunity, we will certainly back him to go and get the runs for India as well like how he has done for Karnataka” Kumble concluded.
The first Test match between India and England will kick off from November 9 and there is just one spot for the grab i.e. of injured batsman Rohit Sharma. Coach and captain will be in a tizzy to pick one of the two aspirants. Looking at the conditions and team combination, Nair is hopeful making his Test debut but the mystery is yet to be revealed on the judgement day.