Former India skipper and BCCI President, Sourav Ganguly has recently talked about having a set combination for the Asia Cup and the ODI World Cup.
Even today, everyone remembers the fight shown by India in the 2003 World Cup where they broke through the finals and were eventually defeated by Australia.
Back then, India had decided to stick with a core group of players with youngsters Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, and Mohammad Kaif.
Now, Ganguly has mentioned that India tends to chop and change the combinations a lot before marquee events.
He says that it is quite important to have a well-settled combination just like Australia did back in 2003.
That’s why he says that India should currently stick with the Asia Cup squad.
We had a settled combination. That’s the most important thing. We were a very good team by then and had started winning. We were on song. We had some fantastic players. That’s why I keep saying don’t chop and change ahead of a major tournament. Have a set of players together for 1 year and let them win or lose and get ready as a team.
Adding further, he says,
Australia did not chop and change for years between 1999-2003 and that’s why they were so good. For that one year in 2003, we had won everything. We won in the West Indies, won the Natwest and except for the blip against New Zealand on those pitches, we won it all. We went to South Africa as a very good team. That’s why it is important that we have our 14 by the Asia Cup, the same 14-15 that will play in the World Cup. It is key you know your combination and don’t keep chopping and changing till the last minute.
India worried about players’ fitness levels ahead of first Asia Cup game
Meanwhile, a selection dilemma has occurred for India as they are worried about the fitness levels of comeback players.
It has already been announced that KL Rahul will not be available for India’s first two games.
This means that Ishan Kishan will have to fit in for him and that means changing the whole batting lineup.
It is because Kishan bats well when he opens the batting for India but is quite mediocre when he bats in the middle order.
So, if India puts Kishan in the opening slot, then they will have to break down the successful partnership.
That’s why they have a lot of questions to answer before their first game on the 2nd of September.
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