Chennai, Sep 9 (Inditop.com) The Indian cricket team begins yet another long and arduous international season with their focus firmly on not just the No.1 spot in One-Day Internationals but also building a side for the 2011 World Cup.
On the eve of the team’s departure to Sri Lanka for the Compaq Cup tri-series — also involving New Zealand, coach Gary Kirsten admitted that one of the targets he has set for the side is the No.1 ranking in ODI besides providing sufficient opportunities to young talent as part of the preparatory process for the next World Cup.
Speaking to the media here Wednesday morning, Kirsten said: “We have set our targets as to what we have to achieve in the next eight months. Certainly, one of them is to become the best team in the World. We are heading that way and we are very excited on the way that we have gone about our business to get to that position.
“We know that if we continue with as hard as we do in terms of our training and how we set our sights for games, we have the best chances of reaching there. We continue with that quest to be the best in the world.”
Kristen, the former South African opening batsman, said the absence of Virender Sehwag, who is recovering from a shoulder surgery, would be a factor, but conversely, the situation presents an opportunity to try out other players.
“We are not sure as to what the combination is going to be in Sri Lanka. Obviously missing players like Sehwag is huge. He is a high quality player and any team would love to have him in their midst. We have got lot of depth in our cricket at the moment,” he said.
While welcoming the return of Rahul Dravid (after a two-year gap) and Sachin Tendulkar, who skipped the recent tour to the West Indies due to a niggle, Kirsten said that the team would greatly benefit from the vast experience of the pair, but pointed out that there were several youngsters who were looking to establish themselves.
“We have tremendous depth in our team. Some of the younger players have proven their worth that they are capable of cementing their places in the team. That is the Indian cricket at the moment. We will continue with that and wherever possible we need to give opportunity to them to play. It is important to give them as much exposure as possible especially leading in to World Cup. We will continue to do that, but obviously most important thing is that we need to win more games,” he observed.
Kirsten felt that the lack of competitive cricket for the likes of Tendulkar would not be an issue as the pre-tour camp in Bangalore addressed the overall fitness of the players. Further, the just-concluded Corporate Cup provided excellent opportunity for others to dust off their rustiness following the off-season break this summer.
“Obviously, it was good to have had the Corporate Cup now. It is important to play some matches and it is important for the players to get strong again. We worked hard in the camp to make sure that the players are in good condition for another eight months. I am very happy and excited about what I have seen of them.
“The Corporate Cup was important for many players to get some game. I think that the way the tournament was scheduled a few weeks before a very good tournament is good first. While some are a bit rusty, they had some games in the Corporate Cup,” he said.
Looking ahead to the tri-series, Kirsten expected some tough games while rating New Zealand as a very competitive side and Sri Lanka, of course, always a difficult team to beat on home soil.
In signing off, Kirsten gave a clean chit to the Indian team that he said was brimming with a nice mix of youth, experience and talent, but the key would be to hit the right combination.
