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‘Take my words, pursue with these boys and they will deliver’
‘This is the team to stay for the years to come’
'Dhoni is still is the best man to lead the show in the shorter version'
Impressed by India's good showing in the cricket World Cup, former India coach Anshuman Gaekwad believes that if the current lot of players is persisted with they will deliver in the ICC's next 50-over showpiece event in England.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men had an unbeaten run in the just-concluded tournament before losing to Australia in the semi-finals. That showing came after losing both the Test and triangular ODI series that preceded the World Cup.
"Take my words, pursue with these boys and they will deliver in the next World Cup (in England). This is the team to stay for the years to come. We have a very good batting and bowling unit, the only question is some extra experience that they will gain in the years to come," said the former Indian batsman said.
In the semi-final match, openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma gave the 329-run chase a perfect start by putting on 76 runs in 12 overs before India was bundled out for 233 in 46.5 overs and lost by 95 runs to the eventual champions.
The 62-year-old was more critical of India's middle order's batting than the bowlers, who leaked 57 runs in the last five overs.
"At the end of the day, a 300-plus chase is about getting six runs per over and taking it from there in the death overs. The openers gave the perfect start, but what was the need of playing the expansive shots by the middle order batsmen. At the end of the day, the experience mattered while chasing 300-plus at the big stage.
"I would not blame the bowlers. They did a stupendous job. After all, which other team has got 70 wickets from seven matches!"
"It's about gaining some more experience and sticking to the team," Gaekwad reiterated.
"Four years is a long time and we have to manage them well. And who knows some new talents would be unearthed," he added.
Despite suggestions from some quarters that Dhoni should retire, Gaekwad believes that India's 2011 World Cup-winning captain is still is the best man to lead the team in the shorter version of the game.
"We hear such things after a bad result. But, let me tell you, we do not have any other option better than him. His fitness is second to none. As long as he's fit, he should carry on."
The focus, he felt, should now be on developing quality fast paced wickets.
"Keeping the seeming conditions (of England in mind), the focus now should be on developing our wickets. We can make a big difference if we have good seaming and bouncy pitches."
On the might of the Australians, he said: "It's same as beating India in India. Australia would always be tough to beat in their home conditions. But if we batted a bit boldly we still had a chance."