ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: Anshuman Gaekwad Believes India Is A Balanced Side In All Departments

May 29, 2019 at 7:17 PM

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ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: Anshuman Gaekwad Believes India Is A Balanced Side In All Departments

Former Indian cricketer and Indian head coach, Anshuman Gaekwad believes that the present Indian national cricket team is a very balanced side. He has credited the head coach Ravi Shastri for giving the team’s boss role to the captain.

England and Wales are ready to organise the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup from 30th May to 14th July. A total of ten teams will feature in this tournament who are focusing on their final preparation ahead of the Cricket World Cup.

Anshuman Gaekwad feels that the present Indian side in the best-balanced side ever in Indian cricket history.

Anshuman Gaekwad, Indian national cricket team, Ravi Shastri, MS Dhoni, Cricket World Cup
Indian national cricket team (Image Credit: Getty Images)

He recently told IANS, “We have a very balanced side – both in the batting and bowling department. And especially with the fast bowlers and spinners, the kind of option the Indian team has today, I don’t think we have ever had this kind of options. Our bowlers, spinners or pacers, are match winners on any given condition.”

Ravi Shastri has done well right from the beginning – Anshuman Gaekwad

The former two-time Indian head coach Anshuman Gaekwad has praised the present Indian head coach Ravi Shastri for giving highest priority to the Indian captain Virat Kohli.

Anshuman Gaekwad, Indian national cricket team, Ravi Shastri, MS Dhoni, Cricket World Cup
Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli (Image Credit: Getty Images)

Gaekwad added, “He has done well right from the beginning. He has put captain (Kohli) as the boss of the team. He has taken a backseat unlike Greg Chappell. I did the same with (Md) Azharuddin when he was the captain.

“Ravi has a great understanding with the captain and is a great man manager. Knowing Virat, the way he pushes the players everyone has to be on their toes and Ravi also helps in that.”

Gaekwad coached the Indian national cricket team in 1999 Cricket World Cup where Mohammad Azharuddin led the national side. Gaekwad’s first Indian coaching term was from October 1997 to September 1999. His next Indian coaching term was very short as it was from August 2000 to October 2000.

Anshuman Gaekwad revealed his no.4 Indian batsman for this World Cup

India’s no.4 batting position is still doubtful. However, Gaekwad selects KL Rahul for the no.4 batting position for the upcoming Cricket World Cup.

KL Rahul (Image Credit: Google)

Gaekwad said, “Rahul is my pick because he is a stroke player and he will complement the top three as all of them are stroke players. Now there is Dinesh Karthik who has proved over a period of time that he can settle the innings once there are early wickets lost.

“As far as Vijay Shankar is concerned, if he gets a chance in the XI we will see.”

The biggest advantage Virat has is Dhoni – Anshuman Gaekwad

The former national selector Anshuman Gaekwad believes that the experienced MS Dhoni’s presence in the upcoming Cricket World Cup is the biggest advantage for Virat Kohli-led India. Gaekwad claimed that the Dhoni’s experience is invaluable.

Anshuman Gaekwad, Indian national cricket team, Ravi Shastri, MS Dhoni, Cricket World Cup
MS Dhoni (Image Credit: Google)

He claimed, “The biggest advantage Virat (Kohli) has is Dhoni. His mere presence gives confidence to the captain. You can’t go to the shop and buy experience, what Dhoni has. He is the mentor of the Indian team. When I was coach of the Indian team, I told Sachin during a series against Australia where he had a stiff back, to just stand at slips and don’t move.

“He could not move, he was in a bad situation. So a mere presence of a player makes a big difference to the opposition.

“If I was the coach, I would play Dhoni if he is fit. Whether he gets runs or not, I don’t care. I play him. His fitness and keeping is out of the world anyway.”

Many cricket experts believe that the selectors should pick up the young wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant for the upcoming Cricket World Cup. However, Gaekwad believes that Pant still needs to learn many things as he is not a planner. Meanwhile, Gaekwad also added the experienced wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik, who is in the World Cup squad, was a planner.

Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik (Image Credit: Google)

Gaekwad added, “Pant still needs to learn a lot. His wicketkeeping needs to improve. As a batsman, Pant can finish a game on a given day but he is not a planner. Karthik is a planner.”

The two-time World Cup winners India will begin their upcoming Cricket World Cup journey on 5th June. On that day, they will face South Africa at Southampton.

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