By Paritosh Pramanik
INDIAN pacers have done exceptionally well on Australia and England tours and former India seamer Munaf Patel feels that the team now has the firepower to take 20 wickets on any given
surface.
The 38-year-old bowler also hoped that India will do exceptionally well in the T20 World Cup starting October 17.
“We have a very good chance this T20 World Cup. The wickets in the UAE would be the same as in India. We are good at playing on slow surfaces. Above all, I don’t see any other Asian team as strong as India. Teams like Sri Lanka, Pakistan are slowly creeping up but we are at the top. We are used to playing on slow and flat wickets as we have played on them for years. The conditions will also be similar there. So I think this would be our best chance (to lift the trophy),” hoped Patel while speaking with ‘The Hitavada.’
Indian captain Virat Kohli has decided to step down from captaincy after World Cup but Patel felt there was no need to do so. “We are already doing well under him (Kohli) so it was not needed. But if Virat quits, it would be a completely different scenario,” he said.
Patel credited India’s brilliant performance with the ball in the recent past to BCCI, NCA and IPL for working relentlessly behind the scene in producing these talented pacers.
“I think we have a bright future in the pace department. The best part is that BCCI is maintaining the fast bowlers by using rotation policy. Plus, with experienced Ishant Sharma in the side, the new seamers are definitely getting the best guidance. The thing is players like Ishant, Umesh Yadav who are playing for the past 10-15 years, are helping the new bowlers develop and produce exceptional performance consistently,” said Patel, who was in city for a fast bowlers’ talent hunt programme for IPL Franchise Rajasthan Royals. The one day talent hunt trials were held at Mujumdar Cricket Academy in Vasant Nagar.
Patel also credited IPL for giving new talents to the Indian side.
“IPL has also helped in players getting exposure and train with senior players. Like (Jasprit) Bumrah has learned a lot from Zaheer Khan (former India pacer) at Mumbai Indians,” said Patel who has played 13 Tests and 70 ODIs for India.
Patel was of the view that fast bowler Mohd Siraj has taken the responsibility very well and has a bright future. “He is playing with Virat Kohli in IPL. That experience counts a lot. He has learned a lot from Virat in all aspects, be it training, discipline, fitness,” said the former pacer.
Patel said the reason India have won on foreign soil (Australia and England) was because of top-notch fielding and the ability to take 20 wickets.
“We were always good in the batting department. But to win a Test match, a team needs to take 20 wickets. Even if you score 1000 runs and can’t take 20 wickets, then you can’t win a Test match. Indian bowlers are taking 20 wickets regularly nowadays and to add to it our fielding has improved immensely,” reasoned Patel, one of the architects of India’s 2011 World Cup title victory.
On the bench strength in the bowling department, Patel credited the system in place.
“Our system has improved a lot. Look at NCA, the IPL, BCCI... we got Siraj from IPL. Today, we have a proper structure in place. We conduct the world’s best league in IPL where all the best players play. NCA is available for all, not only bowlers, 24x4. Credit also goes to Virat who has done a lot to take this team to the top. He has improved the fitness standards of the squad,” mentioned Patel, a former Rajasthan Royals pacer.
“The rotation policy has really worked well for India pacers. If we look back in the recent past, we never used a pacer for all five Tests. After one or two matches, they were rested. That’s the reason the bowlers are producing such favourable results,” Patel explained. The former pacer was impressed with seamer Umran Malik who has generated pace in 150s this IPL.
“It feels good when you get such a pacer in India, knocking at 150s. We always wanted a bowler who could generate real pace. But at the same time, only pace won’t do for Umran. He will have to maintain his fitness level as well. I think Virat has taken the right decision in holding Umran back in UAE as a net bowler,” Patel concluded.
https://www.thehitavada.com//Encyc/2021/10/11/Best-chance-for-India-to-lift-T20-WC-Munaf-Patel.html
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