India need to evolve bowling plan for each match

Bangalore: Roger Binny, the highest wicket-taker (18 wickets) in India's World Cup-winning campaign, feels the Men in Blue need to plan their bowling properly if they want to go all the way.

The unassuming former all-rounder, whose name is also doing the rounds to be the next chief selector, spoke on various issues with Gulf News during Indian team's stay in the garden city.

Following are the excerpts:

GULF NEWS: There is a news in the air that you can become the next chairman of selectors after Kris Srikkanth?

ROGER BINNY: I also heard that but nothing official about it yet. I'll be honoured if I get this offer.

Talking about the ongoing World Cup, do you think India should go in with two medium pacers and two spinners?

There should not be a set theory for any match. You have to pick your best XI and while doing that you should keep in your mind the strength of the opposition.

India have been struggling to field Ashis Nehra.

I don't understand if [Ashis] Nehra is not fit, then why they did not ask for replacement? I do not know whether Indian team can afford to carry an injured bowler.

As far as my knowledge goes, Nehra does have a role in the team management's scheme of things, but he has to be fit first.

The wickets in the current World Cup are docile. What should be the approach of the bowlers?

First of all, they should bowl tight. The balls are not swinging much also. Change of pace has to be there in the armoury of the bowlers.

They should try the yorkers and should concentrate on bowling as straight as possible. The new ball bowlers should wait for the batsmen to make mistakes.

Lots of runs are being scored. Do you think India should bat second?

Any team which dreams of becoming champion should not think negatively. They should be prepared to act bravely in any situation.

We won the 1983 final by batting first and we scored only 183. Nobody was sure whether this total was enough or not. Still, we won because we had the belief in ourselves. Now, Dhoni's team should always try to score least 300-plus whether they bat first or second.

What were the key factors behind winning the 1983 World Cup?

We had no tension and just enjoyed our cricket. People had no expectations from us. We could play freely and we had at least three to four all-rounders who could bowl well in that condition. And of course, we had tremendous team spirit.