CHENNAI: Skipper
Rohit Sharma
and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will hold the key for India in the
T20 World Cup
, according to legendary Australia pacer Glenn McGrath.
Currently serving as the director of coaching at the MRF Pace Foundation, he also stressed that there are no clear favourites. although India and Australia appear to be the frontrunners for the title.
ALSO SEE: T20 World Cup Schedule
Excerpts from an interaction:
On India last playing a competitive T20I five months ago...
You need a team that is comfortable, set and confident, so who knows if it will work for them. The players have come out of the IPL, so they have a lot of T20 cricket under their belt and should be confident in that aspect. A lot of it is going to go around Rohit Sharma. He is a quality player and is experienced. You need someone to hold the team together.
On India’s pace attack...
You got (Jasprit) Bumrah. He showed just how good he is throughout the IPL. He is one bowler who the batters find it hard to play and get on top of, even in T20s. It is also about who is going to take wickets around him, who is going to bowl around him.
On having a left-right pace-bowling pair (with Arshdeep in the XI)...
It is like having a left-right opening combination for batters. It also depends on how they are bowling. In T20s, you do not have much time to be ready. If you take an over or two to warm up, the game is already over. If you have got a good opening-bowling combination, that is where you are going to win matches.
On who the tournament favourites are...
It is going to be a big test for India. I know one-day cricket is different, but India showed in the ODI World Cup how dominant they can be. Australia have a quality bowling attack, Mitchell Starc is key. If Australia are to win this World Cup, Starc has to bowl well. We saw what Travis Head can do when he is on fire. I like the West Indies because they play without fear and have fun. Pakistan, you never know. New Zealand is a good team. I do not think there is going to be a side which will go undefeated. It is just the nature of the format.
On top players like Starc mulling retirement from one format to play franchise T20 cricket...
My fear is where international cricket will be in 10 years. Hopefully, Test cricket is held in high regard. It is a way of the world, everyone wants to be entertained. It is up to the senior players and administrators to hold international cricket in high regard. T20 cricket is here to stay. If that is how we can take cricket to many
countries, there is a lot of bonus.
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