India to try out all options before World Cup: Arun
We’d like to know how people perform in different situations so we can pick a better, balanced team for World Cup.
BHARAT ARUN, India bowling coach
NEW DELHI: India’s batsmen were caught out chasing a target in Ranchi after the dew didn’t arrive while the bowlers struggled when it did come in Mohali. While rain is forecast on Wednesday afternoon, and dew could be a factor in Delhi too.
There are questions whether Indian batting can recover if the top three — Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli — flop while Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav all struggled when Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb and Ashton Turner got set with dew playing havoc in Mohali.
India bowling coach, Bharat Arun said on Tuesday the team management is clear what side it wants to pick for the World Cup and that conditions will be different in the UK. “There are definitely certain areas which we need to address, both in batting and bowling. I would look at it as a big positive, whatever has happened, much before a major tournament like the World Cup. It has thrown up areas in which we need to buck up.”
Arun defended the bowlers after they all went for runs in Mohali. Bumrah returned 3/63 after flagging in the final overs. Chahal took 1/80 and Kuldeep 1/64. Bhuvneshwar, playing his first game of the series, wasn’t sharp either. “These are the bowlers who have put us, (and) if you look at our success record it is more than 75 percent and that is huge for a team.
“More or less the team is quite sure of what the combination is. But we would like to try out all options before the World Cup.
DIFFERENT CONDITIONS
“Conditions in England are going to be a lot different from what we encounter here. But predominantly ICC wickets provided for the World Cup are going to be on the flatter side. In England weather is also to be taken into account. We have the right combinations to counter whatever the conditions. On the whole we are extremely happy, very sure of what we want to do.”
Arun feels the progress of allrounder Vijay Shankar is a positive after coming in for the injured Hardik Pandya. “Vijay has gained in confidence. He has batted brilliantly at any position given to him,” he said. “The confidence gained out of batting has rubbed off on his bowling. The way he started, he was bowling at 121-125kph; today he is touching 130s. He is a huge positive.”
Rishabh Pant will be under pressure at his home ground after many misses in Mohali.
Arun said: “It is unfair to compare Rishabh and Dhoni at this moment. Dhoni is is a legend. His work behind the stumps is exemplary, and also the fact that his advice and guiding — when Virat needs someone to talk to — he is a huge influence on the team.”
He said it was important to try out various combinations whether it was absolutely necessary or not.
“Yes, we would also like to try out, not necessarily those that are going to be in the World Cup. But we’d like to know how people perform in different situations for us to have so that we can pick a better and balanced team for the World Cup.”