The former Indian cricketer Mohinder Amarnath on Thursday said that current Indian team was one of the strongest in the world cricket scene and it comprised of talented young players in its ranks.
‘Jimmy' Amarnath was interacting with students of the Coorg Public School at Gonicoppa in Virajpet taluk of Kodagu district, according to information received here.
Most of the players in the Indian team were all-rounders and it augured well for the team, Mr. Amarnath felt. He came here with his friend Kalimada Rana Nanjappa, who is a pilot in Mumbai, on a two-day visit.
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To a query from a few presspersons who met him at the school, Mr. Amarnath said that the IPL was like a “masala movie”. It had all ingredients to entertain cricket buffs. Cricket craze had reached the pinnacle with the advent of the T20 format, he added. Mr. Amarnath recalled his association with the former cricketer from Kodagu Belliappa and his own achievements as a member of the World Cup-winning Indian team under Kapil Dev.
On Robin Uthappa's performance, Mr. Amarnath said he (Uthappa) was a talented young player but needed to mature as a T20 cricketer. He could indeed do well in future. Mr. Amarnath did not lose an opportunity to heap praises on Sachin Tendulkar, especially his grit.
Mr. Amarnath, who is aware of the hockey tradition in Kodagu, said the game needed to be promoted in the country with participation in international tournaments. Hockey was a national game and it ought not to be neglected, he added. He was all praise for the salubrious climate of Kodagu.
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Mr. Nanjappa, who accompanied Mr. Amarnath, recalled how the latter had spotted a talented youth in a slum in Mumabi and helped shape his cricketing career. The youth was now playing for Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
President of the Coorg Cricket Club M. Kumar Appachu and senior principal of the school M.D. Nanjunda were among those present.