When India lifted the World Cup in 2011, the trio of Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, and MS Dhoni played instrumental roles in the team’s success. As India gears up for the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, which is set to take place on home soil, former Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist suggests that the Indian team management should consider reaching out to these cricketing legends for their invaluable insights and experiences.
Among the three, only MS Dhoni has had recent involvement with the Indian cricket team, having served as a mentor during the 2021 T20 World Cup. However, Tendulkar and Yuvraj have not taken up official roles with the national team. Gilchrist believes that the time is ripe for these cricket icons to interact with the current Indian team and share their wealth of knowledge.
“If I were part of the Indian cricket hierarchy, I would certainly tap into individuals like Sachin (Tendulkar) and MS (Dhoni) to come in and spend some time with the current group if they are available, and have them impart their invaluable experiences. I would also attempt to engage individuals like Yuvraj (Singh), who had to deal with several off-field distractions during the 2011 tournament, and encourage them to speak candidly about their experiences,” Adam Gilchrist suggests.
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Gilchrist underscores the importance of learning from past experiences, especially the unique challenges and external pressures faced by Indian players during a home World Cup. He believes that such insights could be a significant asset for the current crop of players as they prepare for the upcoming tournament.
As the 2023 World Cup approaches, India’s final stop before the mega event is a three-match ODI series against Australia, commencing on Friday. The teams will compete at various venues, including Mohali, Rajkot, and Indore. Gilchrist sees this series as the ideal preparation for two of the tournament’s favorites.
Both India and Australia will be subjected to considerable travel during the World Cup, and players will be rotated and rested as part of the team’s preparations. Gilchrist believes that these matches, played in Indian conditions, will provide a critical benchmark leading up to the World Cup.
“The venues and conditions created will play a significant part in how strong a preparation this is for Australia and India. Generally, when I look at what various other nations are doing, I can’t think of a better preparation than what Australia and India have. They are the two teams that will be definitely vying for the title, so to go up against some of the best teams in the world in Indian conditions will be a real benchmark as to how you are traveling, leading into the tournament,” explains the former Australia wicketkeeper.
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He further added, “There will be some jostling around of the players, and some will be rested for a game or two. It gives you the entire squad, and that depth of the squad will be tested, provided the wickets are similar to what’s going to be provided in the World Cup.”
In conclusion, involving cricket legends like Tendulkar, Dhoni, and Yuvraj to share their insights and experiences could be a boon for India’s World Cup campaign. Additionally, the ODI series against Australia serves as an indispensable preparation stage for both teams as they aim for glory in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup.
