Kris Srikkanth
Kolkata: Ex-Indian captain and aggressive opener Kris Srikkanth, who is currently India’s chief selector, spoke to the press on Saturday, the day after New Zealand were thrashed 5-0 in the ODI series. Highly pleased Srikkanth was, but he acknowledged that a much tougher challenge is just days away, in South Africa.
The following are the excerpts:
Pleasantly surprised by the score line…
Well, yes. Once it became 4-0, I knew it would be a clean sweep… It’s a good result for the Indian cricket team and the competition for places in the squad has gone a step further. The real winner is Indian cricket.
Has it made it difficult for the selectors to shortlist the World Cup XV?
A problem of plenty is much more preferred than worrying about available options. The just concluded series was a chance for some to showcase their skills and each one used it to their advantage completely. Some were making a comeback, some trying to establish themselves. Then, there were some who had to live up to their reputation.
Is rotating players a big task…
Each team has to go through a phase when rotation becomes necessary… Sometimes it’s because of injuries, sometimes because its excessive cricket for some… The balance has to be right though.
How did you find Gautam Gambhir, the stand-in captain?
Gautam is a very sincere and knowledgeable cricketer. He’s smart the way present day cricketers should be. He took the role of a leader and led from the front, motivated the younger lot and got the best out of the seniors. I’ll give Gautam high marks for this.
Happy with Yuvraj Singh’s comeback…
Yuvraj showed a good level of fitness and skill. He also bowled well at the Kiwis. Clearly his much needed confidence is back.
Today, what are your thoughts on the big test ahead, in South Africa?
It’s going to be a completely different ball game from what we’ve seen in the past month and a half. The main challenge for us would be to prove that we’re actually the No. 1 in all conditions across the globe and that the bouncy pitches really don’t matter. Of course, it’s not going to be easy, but I’m hopeful and I’m confident that the team will shine yet again.
As the chief selector, what’s your biggest challenge?
I don’t see this job as any challenge or something. My colleagues and I look to pick the best members for the team and after that, the players have to deliver. There’s no complication as such involved in this.
Tags: Chief Selector, Cricket, India, Indian Cricket, Indian Cricket Team, Kris Srikkanth, New Zealand, ODI Series, South Africa
