Debasis Sen, Dubai: Former selection committee chairman MSK Prasad reckons the two most important factors for Virat Kohli and his team to do well in T20 World Cup 2021 will be to get the right combination and have a clarity of roles. In a freewheeling chat with Xtra Time, MSK Prasad opened up on India’s chances at the marquee event.
Dhoni as a mentor for Team India:
We already have a good team management under Ravi (Ravi Shastri). With Dhoni joining to the squad, it only adds values to the team management. With three ICC trophies under his belt, the wealth of experience he will bring in to the team will be phenomenal. And more importantly every player respects him. Virat and MS has a wonderful chemistry. Dhoni’s inclusion to the side as a mentor is a very good sign for Team India and I wish it shouldn’t end here. I am very happy that after winning the IPL trophy he is joining the Indian squad and so the confidence level will be high.
India’s best chance to win a World Cup:
The players have been in UAE for last one and half months so they will be acclimatized with the conditions. They will have a fair knowledge about the conditions and how the wickets will behave in different grounds. Do its definitely going to be an advantage for Team India. Our top 3 (Virat, Rohit and KL Rahul) have been all among runs.
Hardik Pandya selection:
I think Hardik Pandya has been included in the squad as an all-rounder and not just as a pure batter. What happens is if he is in the playing XI and not bowling, it will affect the combination of the side. With Hardik in the playing XI, you can play five bowlers. If one bowler has a bad day it will cost us. I am sure the team management may have conducted some sort of fitness test because there was an option to shuffle the squad in case someone is not fit.
Varun Chakravarthy factor:
Varun Chakravarthy has been included in the side because of his mystery factor. Not many international sides have decoded his bowling. I definitely feel Varun should start with Jadeja. If there are too many left handers in any opposing side then Ashwin will be your go to bowler.
Ashwin and the wealth of experience:
See under pressure situation in a major tournament you always need experience. I am sure he is confident bowling against right handers as well since he has enough variations in his bowling. I think Ashwin definitely adds value to the side. If I still remember the 2013 Champions Trophy final , it was a rain affected game. He was the bowler who restricted England to scoring only 4 runs. Experience is one thing you cannot buy and it comes with age and more importantly he is in good form.
Pakistan will not have an edge against India:
Had we not played the last two IPL seasons in UAE , then Pakistan would have started in a slight advantageous position. I am sure our players will know the conditions well as the Pakistan team. Whoever gets their combination right will come out as the winner.
Opponents who can give India a tough fight:
Pakistan is definitely one team who will give India a tough fight. England has got a very good side. You can never count out West Indies in this format. Australia will be hungry since they have never won a T20 World Cup. In a T20 format you can never say any side is outright favourites to win. It will very important how you start the tournament and what sort of momentum you get.
Sort out the right combination:
I think the two practice games will give the Indian team management a perfect opportunity to set their combination right. The key for India will be to have the right playing XI depending upon the conditions. The team management needs to have a clarity about the roles set for each individual. Who is going to open, who will play in the middle order, who is going to play the finisher role, we need to set this right in the two practice games? We need to set our batting order. Someone like an Ishan Kishan can be an unknown to the opponents and he can win you matches. The team management should have a role clarity on each individual player. Frankly speaking, we have the potentiality to win the T20 World Cup. It’s just that get the combination right and have a clarity in roles.
Dravid as next Head Coach of Team India:
It’s a natural succession because Rahul Dravid has been groomed ( he groomed himself or the board has groomed him) through a systematic process, putting him through U19 and India A. So now that majority of the younger lot know him, its an ideal time to get into that role of Head Coach of Indian team. I have been advocating the for quite some time now that post Ravi Shastri era Rahul Dravid is the best man to be given the role.