Dubai: Former Indian batting legend Dilip Vengsarkar feels that India has the talent to beat not only England but also Australia on their home grounds.
Speaking to Gulf News, ‘The Colonel’ as he was nicknamed, said on a private visit to Dubai: “There is no doubt that England and Australia will be very strong, especially on their home conditions but I feel Virat Kohli and company are ready for them because they have been playing excellent cricket. The fact they are on top in all formats of the game is a great sign and all the players are extremely fit too and hence they should do well.”
Vengsarkar even believes that India is on course for the 2019 World Cup which is just 11 months away. “India is a young team except for one or two berths. We have an excellent system to Under-19 and India A teams to usher in talent.”
Vengsarkar, who was India’s national chief selector for two years from 2006, feels that Kohli, who failed in England during the tour of England in 2014 scoring just 134 runs from his 10 innings, should do well this time. “Kohli would have worked on the factors that made him fail during the 2014 tour because he takes pride in his performance. He should spend more time in the middle. Not only Kohli, but all other batsmen too should adapt to conditions quickly.”
The man with the rare honour of hitting three centuries at the historic Lord’s ground went on to reveal what it needs to win in England. “In England, the ball moves most of the time. So you have to concentrate very hard. It is important to spend time in the middle.”
Vengsarkar feels that India’s wrist spinners may do well in England. “England batsmen are susceptible to spin bowling, especially wrist spinners. The history of English cricket reveals it. Moreover, England is an ageing team - their pacers James Anderson and Stuart Broad are ageing as well and hence their young guys will have to do well. This is the best chance to beat them because we are playing five Test matches. If India can do well in the One day series before the Tests that can give them the momentum.”
Vengsarkar was also critical about the yo-yo test that resulted in players like Ambati Rayudu and Sanju Sampson being dropped after being selected. “I feel the yo-yo test must be done before the team selection and not after they pick the side. A player has earned his place on the basis of his performance and hence he should be given another opportunity to prove his fitness and not drop him.”
He hailed the form of opener Lokesh Rahul but felt that Cheteshwar Pujara, who was playing in English county, should not have been called to India to play against Afghanistan. “India could have played someone else in place of Pujara who is in groove in England. Let us hope he does well on return,” he said.
Vengsarkar is delighted that some of the players he picked during his period as selector is now among the top guns in the team. “I feel happy that I could give opportunity to young cricketers but every selector, I believe, should have a vision and courage of conviction. The vision to spot talent and also understand whether a player is ready now or whether he will be ready only after a year, is important. This vision can come only if you have played international matches and not by just playing first class matches.
“A selector should have the experience of having played in Australia, England and West Indies and know about the conditions and wickets there. Only then will he be able to pick the players who would suite those conditions.”
