Gary Kirsten Reveals Biggest Challenge As India Coach: "Getting Ishant Sharma..."
Recently, Kirsten made a massive revelation on the campaign. He has said that all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, who turned out to be the Player of the Series in the quadrennial event, was not a certainty in the team that was set to be picked for it. Yuvraj had a dull 2010, but as fate would have it, he was trusted and picked for the World Cup next year. He repaid the faith by playing an intruemental role in India winning the title. Yuvraj scored 362 runs while also picking 15 wickets in the tournament. MS Dhoni -led India defeated Sri Lanka in the summit clash of the tournament by 6 wickets as the side lifted the World Cup after 28 years.
"Thank goodness we picked him because it was flipping close, he was. It was not a slam-dunk selection. The selectors kind of debated around the 15 players," Kirsten told Rediff.com.
Kirsten revealed that he and the then India captain Dhoni both were keen to have the all-rounder in the team.
"I was very keen to have him in the team as was Dhoni, because of the experience that he brought to the group. And look at the World Cup he ended up having," the ex-India coach said.
"I was always very fond of Yuvraj. We had this kind of great relationship where like, he used to frustrate the hell out of me sometimes, but I just loved him. He was good. I just want him to be scoring runs all the time because when I watch him bat, it's just like amazing to watch," he added.
Kirsten also said that Paddy Upton, then India's mental conditioning and strategic leadership coach, too played a role in helping Yuvraj reach his best.
"But there was a journey he had to walk and credit to Paddy (Upton). Paddy did a lot of work with Yuvi to get him ready for that World Cup. Yuvi himself made some key decisions around getting himself prepared and ready for the World Cup," Kirsten said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
14 minutes ago
- First Post
Explosive report denies Kohli, Rohit exit talk, says BCCI in no rush to decide future: ‘Whether Agarkar wants that'
The earlier reports of a farewell being planned for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma does not hold any relevance. According to a new report, BCCI is in no hurry to take a decision on the ODI future of Kohli and Sharma. read more Having successfully promulgated the transition to Test cricket, rising speculations hinted that BCCI could re-evaluate the ODI squad and subsequently, the future of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be ascertained. However, given that there is no urgent need to take the call, the board has kept the decision on hold. As the series against Bangladesh has been called off, India's next ODI assignment is scheduled to take place in October against Australia. Rohit and Kohli's selection could envisage whether the board sees the two stalwarts in the scheme of things for the 2027 ODI World Cup. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Decision on Kohli and Rohit not a priority right now for BCCI Nonetheless, the ODI World Cup is not a concern in front of the BCCI, and as reported by PTI, the board's immediate focus is to figure out an ideal squad for the Asia Cup and following that, the attention will shift to the T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in February. 'Obviously, if they (Rohit and Kohli) have something in mind, they would tell the BCCI brass like they did before the England Test tour. But from an Indian team's perspective, the next big assignment is the T20 World Cup in February and preparations before that. The immediate focus will be on sending the best team for the Asia Cup T20 tournament, hoping all players are fit and available,' a BCCI source privy to the developments told PTI on conditions of anonymity. Eventually, the time will come when the board will have to take the call. However, BCCI will consider different factors before coming up with a judgement. The last tournament the Rohit-Kohli duo featured in was the Champions Trophy of 2025, which India won. Based on how the batters fared in the tournament, it certainly seems they still have a lot to offer. Notably, Kohli made a century against arch-rivals Pakistan, and captain Rohit made a blistering half-century in the final against New Zealand, which set the tone for a 4-wicket victory. Following that, they were expected to play in the recently concluded England series, but left their fans shell-shocked by announcing a Test retirement. Both made their respective decisions public during May. Considering the fact that both are now active in ODI cricket only, they have remained inactive since the end of the IPL 2025. As the fans are waiting for the return of Kohli and Sharma, some media reports emerged out of the ordinary and claimed that the duo could be offered a farewell game at Sydney on October 25. However, the BCCI source has revealed to PTI that no such discussions have taken place. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ajit Agarkar and colleagues will make the call Coming back to the topic of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's return, the Vijay Hazare Trophy is another avenue where the two could feature and make headlines. However, paying heed to it, the BCCI source has stated that given the packed schedule, it would be unlike that the two will play more than three games of the domestic tournament. 'Even if they play Vijay Hazare, before that, there would already be six ODIs that will be played. In between the Australia ODIs and the South Africa ODIs, there is an India A series against South Africa A where three List A games (50 overs) will be held at Rajkot on November 13, 16 and 19 respectively. 'Now, will the duo want to play those three A games, or possibly two, before the South Africa series is the question. Even more important is whether Ajit Agarkar and his colleagues would want that,' he said. 'Overlapping the Vijay Hazare Trophy (December 24, 2025 - January 18, 2025) will be the three ODIs between India and New Zealand (January 11, 14, 18). So even if they play the Vijay Hazare Trophy, it can't be for more than two to three games,' he added.
India.com
14 minutes ago
- India.com
Don't Write Them Off: 8 Reasons Why Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma Deserve To Play ODI World Cup 2027
photoDetails english As per a report in Dainik Jagran, neither Virat Kohli nor Rohit Sharma is guaranteed a spot in India's 2027 ODI World Cup squad. With both having retired from T20Is and Tests, match time will be limited, raising doubts among selectors and BCCI. To stay in contention, they reportedly must participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India's domestic 50-over tournament starting December 2025. Here are some strong reasons why The Duo Is A Must For World Cup 2027. Updated:Aug 10, 2025, 09:01 PM IST Roko Must For 2027 World Cup 1 / 10 As per a report in Dainik Jagran, neither Virat Kohli nor Rohit Sharma is guaranteed a spot in India's 2027 ODI World Cup squad. With both having retired from T20Is and Tests, match time will be limited, raising doubts among selectors and BCCI. To stay in contention, they reportedly must participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India's domestic 50-over tournament starting December 2025. Here are some strong reasons why The Duo Is A Must For World Cup 2027. The Leader 2 / 10 Rohit Sharma has led India to victory in 23 of his last 24 ICC matches, showcasing an unmatched winning streak. His calm temperament and tactical acumen have made him a reliable leader, performing consistently under pressure to guide India to success on the world stage. Rohit Sharma's Phenomenal Overall ODI Stats 3 / 10 Rohit Sharma has played 273 ODIs, scoring 11,168 runs in 265 innings with 36 not outs. Averaging close to 49 with a strike rate around 90, he owns 31 centuries and 55 half-centuries, including a record three double hundreds. His unmatched ability to convert starts into monumental scores makes him one of ODI cricket's all-time greats. Rohit Sharma's Dominance in the 2023 Cricket World Cup 4 / 10 Rohit scored 597 runs in the 2023 ODI World Cup at an impressive average of 54.27 and strike rate of 126. His ability to deliver aggressive yet stable starts was vital in building solid foundations for India's innings across diverse conditions. Consistent Match-Winner in Champions Trophy 2025 5 / 10 Rohit's influence continued as he earned the Player of the Match award in the 2025 Champions Trophy. His outstanding performance in critical matches solidifies his status as India's premier match-winner and captain, someone who delivers when it matters the most. Virat Kohli's Historic Record at the 2023 World Cup 6 / 10 Virat Kohli was the Player of the Tournament at the 2023 World Cup, scoring 765 runs in 11 innings at an astounding average of 95.62. His three centuries and six fifties highlight his exceptional consistency and ability to dominate world-class bowling attacks. Virat's Strong Contribution in 2025 Champions Trophy 7 / 10 Kohli continued his fine form in the 2025 Champions Trophy with 218 runs at an average of 54.50, including an unbeaten century against Pakistan. His presence adds experience and stability in pressure situations, proving he remains a vital cog in India's ODI machinery. Virat Kohli's Stellar Career ODI Stats 8 / 10 Virat Kohli has played 302 ODIs, scoring 14,181 runs in 290 innings with 45 not outs. He boasts a highest score of 183, an incredible batting average of 57.88, and a total of 15,192 career ODI balls faced at a strike rate of 93.34. Kohli holds a record 51 centuries and 74 half-centuries, with 1,325 fours and 152 sixes to his name. His unmatched consistency makes him the greatest ODI batsman of the modern era. Rohit's and Virat's Commitment Beyond Age 9 / 10 At ages 38 and 36 respectively, both Rohit and Virat continue to defy age norms, showing remarkable fitness, passion, and determination. Their sustained performances demonstrate their ability to contribute meaningfully in the 2027 World Cup despite competition from younger Legends Deserve Respect - Farewells vs Criticism 10 / 10 While countries like Australia plan grand farewells for Kohli and Rohit during their 2025 tour, Indian cricket faces criticism for questioning their futures. These legends have shaped an era with unmatched records and resilience. They deserve honour and respect, not doubts or premature farewells, as their legacy inspires generations ahead.
Indian Express
14 minutes ago
- Indian Express
How can chess players ace the multi-format juggle?
Returning to the venue where he has 'bad memories' of losing the World Championship crown to Magnus Carlsen in 2013, for the Chennai Grand Masters, Viswanathan Anand didn't hesitate to throw a punchline from the commercial when asked what D Gukesh had to do. 'Mere paas paanch hai (I've five)' he said pointing to the five world titles. 'It is a good starting point. I think he knows what to do.' But more importantly he had a telling message to pass on—don't rule out any format for the sake of the other. In the ongoing Chennai Grand Masters, there is Nihal Sarin. For a player who has been so good at speed chess, he has been stagnating in the classical front in the words of his coach Vishnu Prasanna. He arrived in Chennai for the tournament alongside Arjun Erigaisi – whom he defeated on Sunday for the first win of the event – after featuring in the inaugural eSports World Cup in Saudi Arabia. In a year where the World Cup is lined up, alternating between formats offers its own challenges. That all the top players want to be part of all the formats shows where the sport is heading and how they have to pick and choose tournaments. Despite being a local boy, Gukesh had to skip the tournament that took him to Candidates in 2024 because he had already committed to featuring in one-day, one-off six match Blitz tournament against Jan Krzysztof Duda. 'The simplest way to say it is that they shouldn't rule out any format mentally,' Anand said about switching formats. 'In a sense, you don't probably have good results in all the formats, in all the years but I don't think you are assured of one format either. I mean Gukesh has had a bad classical in Romania for instance. I think when one misfires, you should be able to compete in the other. So, you should try to be competitive in all. Maybe you won't succeed, but it's worth it,' Anand said. At the Classical event in Bucharest, part of the Grand Chess Tour, Gukesh finished joint sixth, a below par showing for the Indian teen (Compatriot R Praggnanandhaa won the tournament). It just reemphasised how challenging it can be to juggle between formats without enough break in between. But Nihal says all top players have to find a way to get adjusted to playing across formats. 'As of now for sure (playing all). Generally, most top players can adapt to the different time buttons, switching quite fast between. In a way, it is kind of like playing tennis on different surfaces. Just find a way to adapt and try,' Nihal said. The 21-year-old himself is a case in point. After the eSports event, he is in Chennai, playing the most challenging format for him. At many points during his win over Erigaisi, having lost two previous matches from strong positions, he feared he could repeat the same. Not even a blunder from Erigaisi made it any easier for Nihal. Nihal wastes no time opens with Knight f3 against Arjun. The crowd holds its breath… what's Arjun cooking in reply? 👀♟@NihalSarin @ArjunErigaisi @chess24com @chesscom_in @QBResearch#QuantboxChennaiGrandMasters #ChennaiChess2025 #ChessInChennai #GrandmastersLive… — Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters (@Chennai_GM) August 10, 2025 'I kind of accidentally landed in a very good position. And yeah, he started defending insanely well. I was trying my best to keep out the negative thoughts. It's something I should definitely work on. Sometimes after so many mess-ups, you're going to be like, 'how am I going to mess this one up?' I mean, I tried, but fortunately, no, he defended extremely well, but fortunately, he made a big mistake at that. Otherwise, this would have probably been a draw,' Nihal said. It is with the goal of improving his classical game that Nihal has turned to Prasanna. While his peers have all breached, 2700 he is still struggling to go anywhere close to it and he said it did bring about pressure in its own ways. 'I try my best not to, but as long as I'm ambitious in chess, I should be having this in the back of my mind. I try my best to not take pressure, but obviously… Let's say it's not active pressure, but obviously there will be some,' Nihal said. While the likes of Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, Erigaisi have all reached the highs very young in their careers, there is now general anticipation as to how they will face the challenge of staying at top. 'Sport is evolving very fast; new formats, new things. I think the only thing I can do is if they ask, I can describe how I face a certain situation and then it would be their job to convert that. We are not comparing the same thing anymore,' Anand said. Masters: Karthikeyan Murali bt Jorden van Foreest, Ray Robson drew with Awonder Liang, Nihal Sarin bt Arjun Erigaisi, V Pranav drew with Vidit Gujrathi, Vincent Keymer drew with Anish Giri. Challengers: Diptayan Ghosh bt GB Harshavardhan, P Iniyan bt Aryan Chopra, Adhiban Baskaran drew with M Pranesh, Leon Mendonca bt D Harika, Abhimanyu Puranik bt R Vaishali.
