March 29, 2024

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India vs South Africa: What has changed in Team India, does Kirsten really know that?

India vs South Africa: What has changed in Team India, does Kirsten really know that?

Team India

Former India coach Gary Kirsten helping the South African ahead of their World Cup doesn’t seem to be a cause of concern for Team India. It’s true that the former South African opener knows a little more than other coaches in the World Cup about the Indian players, but that doesn’t seem to bother the Indian team management.

During the 2011 World Cup at home, Kirsten worked closely with MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and R Ashwin and so he knows a little bit about these players. But now, things have changed as a newly built Indian team is currently playing the Cup. The likes of Dhoni, Raina, Kohli and Ashwin are known to Kirsten, but a lot of changed in their approach after India won the World Cup at the Wankhede stadium four years ago.

Kohli, for example, played a simple role in the team, but this time around, he is the face of Indian batting in the top order. Even Raina was not even a regular in the team till Yusuf Pathan failed on the league stages of the 2011 event. The same Raina is now one of the top batsmen in the team and now wants to emulate a Yuvraj Singh like performance for his team this time.

Four years ago, even Ashwin was the second spinner after Harbhajan Singh. But in this World Cup, his role is even bigger. It only the Indian captain, Kirsten could anticipate some of his moves in advance. But Dhoni being Dhoni, who is always ready with a new game plan in every match, is probably far and wide to be within Kirsten’s reach.

Even the skills of the rest of the Indian team mayn’t be a well versed subject to the South African. From here whether Kirsten’s inputs on Indian players along with bowling coach Allan Donald, who also has an experience of running an IPL team, will help South African players or not is subject to a scrutiny on Sunday morning battle!

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