Anil Kumble looking forward to work with Dhoni at Florida T20I series against WI

Coach Anil Kumble and captain Dhoni on their first joint venture. Pic bcci@twitter.
Coach Anil Kumble and captain Dhoni on their first joint venture. Pic bcci@twitter.

Internet Desk: Team India coach Anil Kumble is eagerly waiting to play with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Prior to the Florida two match T20 series, he talked to Dhoni over the series too. After playing with Dhoni for a long time this will be coach Kumble’s first venture with captain Dhoni.

“This is the first time I will be working with Dhoni. We have played together over a long period of time and we had a chat yesterday and today as well. I’m really looking forward to working with him”, said Anil Kumble.

Kumble has already reached Florida to have a sense of the field where India will play for the first time. In a press meet Kumble also described that he is eager to meet the whole set of players to play at Florida.

“It is nice to be a part of the Indian dressing room again,” said Kumble. “They are extremely committed, very disciplined and you tell them what you need and they are ready to put their hand up and do it.”

However, Kumble depicted it as a challenge for team India as they are shifting from test cricket to T20 format. Prior to the series may be Indian coach tried to play a mind game against West Indies. He thinks that it will be easier for West Indies to play T20 at this time.

Respecting the World T20 Champions Kumble said, “West Indies are always a tough side and they are the World T20 champions. Also, some of the West Indian players needn’t have to make the switch from Tests to T20s as they are coming straight out of the CPL. They are a quality side, and we had a tough match against them in the semifinal of the World T20. So, we are going to encounter a quality side and we are aware of that. It is going to be a challenge”.

From this perspective Anil Kumble is keeping his side at back to the opponents. However, keeping faith on his squad Kumble is worried about the abrupt change of pattern for team India.

“It is a mindset change and not easy to switch your focus from playing a Test series and coming into a T20 mode. It is something we need to change in our mind. Probably both bowlers and batsmen need to make adjustments. It is not easy, but all of us are professionals and they have played enough T20 cricket to adjust. It is something to focus on. It is more in the mind,” the former skipper said.

However, the Indian coach is confident over his team as per their performance over last six months.

“The critical point is you (have to) play some good cricket. Yes, the Test series victory was very good in West Indies. Even if you look at India’s T20 record for India, the past six months, it has been pretty impressive, and that is something we would like to take forward in these games as well,” Kumble added.

Indian coach is satisfied with the field preparation at Florida. India coach Anil Kumble is “very impressed” with the facilities at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium in Florida.

“I certainly felt that it could be a makeshift. I had heard about Florida and this ground, but very impressed with the facilities that we have seen today. It’s the first time that I’m seeing this ground and the wickets are good, ideal probably for a T20, and the practice facilities have been good, the outfield looks fantastic. So all in all, really impressed with the facilities”, praised Kumble.