India’s cricket coach, Gary Kirstein has said that he would love to target the number one position for the Indian team in the ODI format, something is not too far from the team. With five successive ODI series wins so far, another tournament win here in Sri Lanka against the hosts and the Kiwis, would see them catapult to the number one position.
Out of the last five series that the Indian side has won, two have come in Sri Lanka, against the hosts themselves, whereas the side has triumphed in one each against New Zealand, England and West Indies. Kirstein said that the goals had been set before they left the country and that was to become the best cricket playing country in the world. Kirstein also acknowledged that to do so, they would have to forget the past records and play as well as they have been in the past.
He also said that the Indian batting line-up was very strong in the middle and the challenge was to mix it up a little and get in some youngsters who could provide a back-up to the side.
Acknowledging that Virender Sehwag’s loss at the top of the order was huge, he said that the Indian side will need to play well to cement the spot. He also said that Gautam Gambhir will open the innings, but refused to give anything away in the form of any strategy, by refusing to reply who would open the innings. He also welcomed back Rahul Dravid into the side by saying that it was great to have him back into the side. Dravid had last played in an ODI for India about two years back before he was dropped by the selectors. Many people had thought that it was the end of Dravid’s fifty-overs career, but clearly that has not been the case!
Kirstein also added that it was a great feeling to have a six-week break from the rigours of international cricket, before playing yet again in an international fixture. The Indian side had been on the road for some time now, and injuries had begun to creep up rather regularly. India play their first game against New Zealand.
Sign up for our daily email newsletter:
