Well at the moment when a whole lot of speculations questioning the capabilities of Team India in winning World Cup are circulating around, a statement from India’s World Cup-winning coach Gary Kirsten will certainly boost the morale of Team India. Gary on Saturday said the team has got a “really good chance” of repeating their 2011 success.
While speaking to media, Kirsten opined that the Team India is an “incredibly strong team for any given opponent. He said “The Indians have a really good chance of retaining the trophy. They have produced a new team after 2011 and they have had incredible success. I think the Champions Trophy win was a tremendous event for them and they have an incredibly strong side, which will be tough to beat.”
When asked that if fielding an injured player can become a liability for the team, the former coach clarified that it depends on the circumstances and the balance of the team by stating “Depends on how important the cricketer is to the balance of the team. Replacing an important but injured player is tough, as the guy who comes in to fill his shoes may not be able to play the same role. Before the knock-outs the teams can experiment and reshuffle a bit and then settle down on the combination of the team, he added.”
Appreciating Virat Kohli and compatriot Hashim Amla as the world’s best one day batsmen now, Kirsten pointed out the Indian as the one to watch out for. He added “Virat is a tremendous player, it’s just his ability to perform and produce results for the team and he is very good at chasing down totals. Presently Kohli and Hashim Amla are the best ODI batsmen. I believe he is going to stand tall among his peers in the World Cup too.
Kirsten, who guided India to its second world cup title in 2011 opined “They have all forgotten about 2011 and are focusing on the upcoming World Cup. New time, renewed hopes, they will be doing their best to retain the trophy.”
Kirsten’s assessment is very vital as he knows the weakness and strength of the team inside out as he was the Indian cricket team’s coach from 2008 to 2011. Let us hope that this opinion of Kirsten proves true.