The former captain of the Indian cricket team and ace spinner Anil Kumble has expressed confidence that India willwould win the 2015 World Cup. “The heart says India, but we can’t discount the home teams Australia and New Zealand,” he said.
South Africa, which has “question marks on their mind rather than their game”, will also be there if they hold their nerves, Mr. Kumble said.
“If things go well and we qualify for knockouts then it’s a matter of holding your nerve and doing the best on that day. And India has done that in the last World Cup,” he said.
On the retirement of M.S. Dhoni from Tests, Mr. Kumble said it was quite difficult to be a captain, wicketkeeper and batsman, and manage fort.
“It is never easy captaining the Indian team, which he has done for six years,” he said.
Mr. Dhoni needed his mind to be fresh for the World Cup and “his comfort zone is the shorter format”, the spinner said.
Proved
Appreciating K.L. Rahul for scoring a century on the Sydney Cricket Ground, Mr. Kumble said he was glad Mr. Rahul got an opportunity to open the innings, which “is natural to him”.
Of Mr. Rahul’s performance in the first Test, he said it was “all a matter of nerves”. “He has never batted at that position. When you sit and wait, the mind will be constantly thinking,” he said.
It was fairly “an overbearing task” to come to out and bat at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. “I am glad he has done well,” he said. There would be better representation from Karnataka in the Indian team as the State was doing well as a team in the domestic tournaments, Mr. Kumble said.
‘But can’t discount the home teams, Australia and New Zealand’
