India player Dinesh Karthik has backed the idea of having different coaches for India in Test and white-ball cricket. He cited the example of the white-ball champions (ODI and T20I) England, the only country with different coaches for the two formats as well. He also feels that the above-mentioned two teams play too much cricket. Hence, India are also expected to end up adding different coaches for red-ball and white-ball formats.
Speaking to Cricbuzz, Karthik said: “I don’t mind having a different Test coach and white-ball coach, which is something that the English team has embraced and let’s be honest, I think there are only two countries that play so much cricket, India and England. When it comes to the volume of cricket played, especially, interestingly, you have tours overlapping as well. You are gonna see coaches, obviously, choosing which is of more context.”
Dinesh Karthik also extended his support to head coach Rahul Dravid, who has been rested along with senior players Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul after the T20 World Cup. However, Karthik further hinted that only six players will be in India’s squad for ODIs in New Zealand and Bangladesh due to a gap of three days – Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, and Deepak Chahar as well.
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“Look, I think, as we speak, on the 30th, the team is going to Bangladesh and this series isn’t going to get over till the 30th. I don’t think India can be in two places at the same time. So, it’s very understandable that a coach opts out of it and that is something that Team India need to look for, the 2024 World Cup and 2023 One Day World Cup,” he added.
Meanwhile, NCA head VVS Laxman is currently serving as the acting head coach on the ongoing New Zealand tour, comprising three T20Is and as many ODIs as well. However, Karthik feels that Team India will now focus on the upcoming Test series in Bangladesh and Australia as well.
“I think two Tests in Bangladesh and four Tests in Australia is what the captain and coach are looking forward to now because if you win five of those six Tests, then we have a chance, a crack at the World Test Championship final that happens in July. That will be the biggest priority now; hence, they have chosen to be part of those series. That’s why you’ll see a full-fledged team going to Bangladesh and then to Australia Test series,” Dinesh Karthik again shared.
Meanwhile, he also feels that team management should give ample opportunities to youngsters. With senior players rested, youngsters like Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Umran Malik should step up.
Speaking to Cricbuzz, Karthik said: “The context for this series is more about understanding individuals and giving them opportunities. So, that would, in return, mean that they try and speak to what their ideas were before the start of this game, and I am pretty sure that whatever they decided as XI would still be the same XI going into this game as well. You need to give opportunities to players. I think you would definitely see a bit of rotation. I understand that there are two T20Is now, not a lot to play for, but you would understand if they give opportunities to quite a few guys to perform in international cricket.”
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However, Karthik named New Zealand the most consistent team in ICC tournaments this decade. He, however, feels that they always play differently in bilateral games, unlike in multi-national events.
“They are a side that always punches a little above their weight, especially in knockout tournaments. In bilaterals, they are probably not the same force that they are in an ICC tournament. They very well know how to perform in ICC tournaments. They kind of come together as a unit and do well, and they have been the most consistent team in ICC tournaments this decade. I think they have been finalists or semi-finalists almost everywhere and went on to win the inaugural World Test Championship. They look a balanced side. Obviously, Boult has decided not to sign that New Zealand contract. He’s going to play T20 leagues in the world. So, that’s something which is a development, which was talked about and probably, there will be few who might just join that league as well,” Dinesh Karthik concluded.
