India's bowling coach Paras Mhambrey previews their huge ICC T20 Cricket World Cup clash with USA. The winner is certain of a place in the super eight.
Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York, USA
Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York, USA
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00:00Since you took over as bowling coach of the Indian team, was that the best bowling performance
00:11by the Indian team, you think?
00:13Well, there were a couple of them.
00:15I thought in a different format.
00:17I thought the test win in South Africa, the last game that we played in South Africa was
00:25phenomenal.
00:26But, yeah, if you look at the context of the game, if you look at the tournament, the pressure,
00:33the way we handled the pressure, this was definitely very much up there in terms of
00:38the performance, fabulous performance.
00:43I thought in a game like this, especially when you have so much pressure in terms of
00:48the high-intensity game, obviously a game against Pakistan is always going to be high-intensity,
00:53whatever you say, it's never going to be a normal game.
00:57To be able to defend, obviously when you're batting, you expect at a situation where we
01:02were nicely placed to get more runs, but especially when that doesn't happen, you know you're
01:07defending low scores, and that's the only way out there is to go and bowl at your best.
01:13I think in that context, I thought to be able to defend that score on a wicket which definitely
01:19got better was phenomenal.
01:23Every individual up there did his job, that's what you expect at this level, but everything
01:27coming together is also important, and I think that through the game, that all the bowlers,
01:31the game plan came in.
01:32I think we executed our plans very well, and when that happens, the victory is sweet.
01:41Playing a host country, which knows the conditions very well, coming with a victory over Pakistan,
01:48what would be the areas that one has to be cautious about in this match?
01:53I think like every other game, I think you can't take any game lightly.
01:58This is the World Cup, every game matters, your rhythm is important, winning is a habit
02:04that you need to get into early, you need to get into early form, and I think in context
02:08of the game, every game is important.
02:10So for us, it's going to be like any other game, it's like we play Pakistan, like we
02:13play Ireland, it's going to be a similar game for us.
02:17We are used to the conditions, like them, I think we played enough out here, we know
02:21what kind of a wicket it is, and purely with the experience that we have, you expect to
02:25overcome that.
02:28Hello.
02:29Hello.
02:30As you are a coach, you are advising the bowlers, but are the batsmen coming to you for advice
02:36on how to play, and what advice are you giving to the batsmen?
02:40Look, if the batsmen come to me for advice, it's not right, so definitely not.
02:47I think Vikram is there, he is doing a great job, Rahul is there, he is doing a very good
02:52job, and you have seen him for so many years.
02:55But I think in such games, when you bowl, when you count, one thing is that you have
03:01to be a little patient.
03:02We know one thing is good, that the wicket is good, we know that the wicket is a little
03:06helpful, it's a little helpful for the bowlers, over the period as well.
03:09Like you saw, the first two matches were a little more, this was a little less, but
03:14definitely.
03:15And in such wickets, one thing that is definitely important is patience.
03:18I think sometimes we get carried away, that the wicket, looking at the pace, the length
03:23can vary a little.
03:24Here those 15-20 runs are very expensive, but like I said, we have a lot of experience
03:29in the team, bowlers like Bumrah, Arsh has also played a lot, Siraj, and you know, these
03:36three have played a lot together, so they have a lot of understanding of what the situation
03:40is, how to read the wicket.
03:42But like I said, patience is very important, and every run here is very strong.
03:49Paras, here the fast bowler is getting help, the spinner is also getting a little help,
03:53in T20 cricket, a bowling wicket that helps both of them.
03:57What would you say about this?
03:59Because like you said, don't think too much ahead, stay there.
04:04How do you assess all these things?
04:08I think the last 3-4 matches that we played here, we definitely felt that the wicket is
04:13a little bowler-friendly, it is a little tilting towards the bowler.
04:16The 1-2 matches that we played earlier, where there was more bounce, if you as a batting
04:21unit know that there is consistently bounce, then you can play games, you can play particular
04:25shots.
04:27On such wickets, when the ball is up and down, there are very limited shots options.
04:32The shot that you can play normally, the ball that is going up, it can hit the top edge
04:37or the ball that is going down, it can get bowled.
04:39So I think you have to adjust the game plan a little here as a batsman.
04:42You can't get upset, you know that one ball will go well and you can't take a light shot.
04:47So that is a little challenging.
04:49As far as bowling is concerned, it is much better.
04:51Like I said, you have to show a little patience.
04:54These wickets are like that.
04:55We know that if you are getting help in wickets, like batsmen are in a lot of difficulty,
05:01then you just have to hit patiently with good lengths and lines.
05:07And sometimes, as a bowler, I am a little stubborn.
05:10I say, let me do something different.
05:12We go for a magic ball for a long time.
05:14That can be costly sometimes.
05:15So I think those 3-4 runs initially don't feel like it.
05:18But in the context of the game, when the game goes to the end,
05:21those 3-4 runs feel like we could have saved it there.
05:24There is a difference whether we go to win or go under pressure.
05:28So you have to think a little.
05:32Hi coach.
05:33Are there any conversations around Jadeja's batting form?
05:36He has not been very fluent ever since the IPL as well.
05:40I think it is a team game.
05:42It is going to be 11 guys.
05:43You really don't expect all of them coming into form.
05:47It is going to be performed every game.
05:49That will happen.
05:50For me, I personally feel whatever conversations Rahul and Vicky are having around,
05:56I have been pretty happy with it.
05:58And you expect a one-out game out there.
06:00But it is a long tournament.
06:02I think someone like Jadeja,
06:04who is so vastly experienced,
06:06he just needs a game out there
06:08to just get his route around and feel around.
06:11And we know that the skills that he has,
06:14and with the experience,
06:15he is going to go ahead and he is going to win the games.
06:18So that confidence we have in not only Jadeja,
06:20but honestly with someone like Dubey and others as well.
06:23You can have a one-out game.
06:24And we have given them the option to have the conversation.
06:28You will have a game.
06:29One bad game.
06:30That's fine.
06:32And that's what is important in a tournament like this.
06:35Coach, just wanted to know that Bumrah on the other day was saying
06:38that this time the Indian bowlers who have played in the IPL,
06:41they are not carrying any IPL baggage in this tournament.
06:44So was there any specific discussion around this
06:47when we prepared at the start of the tournament
06:50regarding that those pitches were different,
06:52these are different conditions,
06:53maybe your game plan will be different.
06:55So is there any specific discussion around this?
06:58Pull the bowlers out of that IPL zone?
07:01No, honestly I don't know what context he mentioned that.
07:03But I am assuming in terms of way,
07:05if you look at the way IPL was,
07:07it's a completely batsman dominated.
07:09You look at 260, 270 scores.
07:11As a bowler, from the very first ball you are under the pump.
07:15Out there it was 9, economy rate was wow.
07:19You have done very well.
07:2010 was acceptable.
07:21But yeah, if you look at that tournament,
07:23if you compare this to this wicket, it's different.
07:25But as I said, enough experience.
07:27Bumrah has played so much of cricket.
07:30And I like the fact that he is taking charge.
07:33He knows that there's a lot of responsibility
07:36other than just playing.
07:38And which he's just having those discussions,
07:40kind of discussions with the bowlers.
07:42And that's very important,
07:44especially when you're on the ground playing the game.
07:46That kind of opening, someone who's bowled out there
07:49would give that advice, it gives you.
07:50That makes a difference.
07:51And I think that's very good to see that Bumrah is doing it.
07:54And he's taken that mantle in his hand.
08:00Paras bhai, one thing, when the IPL was going on,
08:03you were also seeing Hardik as a bowler.
08:05There was a concern in your mind.
08:06And the way he turned around as a bowler,
08:08because they give India that flexibility,
08:10with 4 pacers, you can go with 3 pacers.
08:13What kind of time did you spend with Hardik?
08:15Mindset, work, skill, whatever.
08:17Can you tell us about that after coming here?
08:20I think one thing, you know,
08:22I'm definitely sure about Hardik,
08:24that the confidence he has on his ability,
08:28it was there before.
08:29So I didn't have to think about
08:31how he would come here with less confidence.
08:34Sometimes, in a tournament, there's no rhythm.
08:39Sometimes, even if you try,
08:41there's no rhythm. It takes time.
08:44I think that was a phase where
08:46there was no rhythm.
08:48As a bowler, there's a lot of time.
08:49You're doing everything.
08:50You're bowling, you're putting in numbers,
08:53you're bowling consistently, you're playing.
08:55So sometimes there's no rhythm.
08:57I think in his case,
08:58it was a factor where there was no rhythm.
09:00If he was worrisome,
09:02he wouldn't have done anything in that phase.
09:05If he didn't work on that,
09:07it was a bit worrisome.
09:08But one thing, for sure,
09:10I knew that, I followed it,
09:12that his work ethic
09:14was the same as before.
09:16So if that's going on with you,
09:18then you know that
09:20after one or two matches,
09:22the rhythm of the bowler comes.
09:23Because he has done a lot of bowling,
09:26he has an understanding of his own bowling.
09:28So he was sure that
09:30if his work ethic was going on,
09:31he was bowling,
09:33the nets attendance was going on,
09:35then I think the rhythm will come.
09:36And I think you can see
09:37in the last one or two matches he bowled,
09:39if you compare the IPL and the rhythm now,
09:41as a bowler, you can see
09:43that there is a rhythm.
09:45So I think it's all about rhythm.
09:47And I think he has caught the rhythm.
09:50Paras bhai, obviously,
09:51does it come as somewhat surprising
09:53because here you're playing
09:55and you didn't get a chance to practice in the stadium.
09:57You're training here
09:5920 minutes away in Kantiak Park.
10:01The hotel's gym is not good.
10:03You have to go somewhere else
10:05to go to the gym.
10:07We're also looking at the beaches.
10:09A lot has been said about the beaches.
10:11The outfield is also not that good.
10:13Overall experience in New York,
10:15the way you got those facilities.
10:17See, I think one thing is that
10:19these facilities are constant for everyone.
10:21We are not the same team
10:24that plays for an hour or 20 minutes or whatever.
10:26All teams are doing the same.
10:28And I think when you play a tournament,
10:30you expect that
10:32everything will not be perfect.
10:34Obviously, you're playing in a country
10:36where they're increasing the game.
10:38It's the first time they're holding a big tournament.
10:40It's very difficult
10:42and important to create facilities.
10:44But I think
10:46one thing is that it's for everyone.
10:48So I think,
10:50as a team, we'll think
10:52what's best for us in this situation?
10:54How can we take the best from here?
10:56That's the thing.
10:58I don't think anyone is thinking about it
11:00or wants to think about it.
11:02I think it's the same for every team.
11:04I think you'll have to adapt.
11:06If you want to play such tournaments
11:08and win,
11:10you'll have to adapt on and off the field.
11:14Parash bhai,
11:16India is playing in kind of unique conditions here.
11:18While some of our
11:20probable opponents
11:22are playing in West Indies
11:24and getting used to West Indies conditions,
11:26India has not a very big
11:28turnover time.
11:30Why are you going into
11:32West Indies? Because everything
11:34will kind of change when you go
11:36to West Indies. Bowlers are
11:38slightly getting pampered here,
11:40it seems.
11:42I think the good thing is that we already played
11:44in West Indies. We already had a couple of series
11:46out there prior to this. So we more or less know
11:49what kind of a surface we'll encounter out there.
11:51We have played on those
11:53conditions in India as well.
11:55If you go travel to India,
11:57Vankade is different to Gujarat,
11:59Delhi is some different soil.
12:01It's not going to be similar wicket
12:03that we played on and we're going to be alien to those conditions.
12:05So definitely not. We played on the conditions,
12:07we know what kind of conditions we're going to
12:09encounter. And as I said,
12:11as a team has so much experience,
12:13we will adapt. We know that
12:15we have the skills, we have the
12:17temperament and the talent to adapt.
12:19So I'm really not worried.
12:23Just two parts to this particular question.
12:25Firstly, what would you say
12:27to Kuldeep Yadav as a coach?
12:29Because at the start of the tournament,
12:31he seemed to be one of the most successful bowlers.
12:33Yes.
12:35Can't you replace him just because
12:37Akshay is a better bowler than him?
12:39And secondly,
12:41during the IPL,
12:43Bumrah was saying that
12:45Kuldeep Yadav should have been there.
12:47Is this also a reason that
12:49Arshdeep won't be as effective
12:51as Bumrah with a semi-new ball?
12:53And because of this,
12:55both the new ball, Siraj and Arshdeep
12:57Karian Bumrah are coming third.
12:59The first part
13:01that you asked me about Kuldeep,
13:03I think there is a discussion very clearly
13:05in the team and
13:07there is a discussion with every player
13:09that I think when we
13:11go on the ground,
13:13we look at the wicket
13:15and decide the composition of the team.
13:17So we talk to every player that
13:19there will be a situation
13:21where we see that in India
13:23two spinners, two seamers are enough.
13:25So I think those conversations
13:27continue. Rahul
13:29is talking to all the players that
13:31we will do this, you expect this.
13:33Importantly, they also understand
13:35where we are coming from.
13:37They also understand that when we play
13:39on this wicket, seamers are going to be
13:41more effective.
13:43So I think that is a good thing
13:45that the conversations are going well
13:47and people are open to it.
13:49So there is no issue with that.
13:51The second thing you asked
13:53is Bumrah.
13:55So I think here, as you said,
13:57the conditions are such that you need to
13:59use which bowler you can effectively use.
14:01Arsh has one strength, Bumrah has one strength.
14:03How can we
14:05maximise both?
14:07Arsh has always been a strength
14:09where he shapes,
14:11there is good wind on the ground,
14:13it is seen that the swing is good,
14:15the seam ball is good.
14:17So the thinking is that if we can
14:19use it better, so we will try it.
14:21We know that Bumrah can
14:23put it in all three stages.
14:25So in terms of putting Bumrah in the first
14:27power play, he will do that too.
14:29He will do it in the middle and in the death.
14:31But we are using how to maximise
14:33the bowlers. We can maximise
14:35the bowlers as much as possible.
14:37We are thinking that
14:39we are not putting Bumrah in the middle.
14:41Arsh is putting it in the start.
14:43Maybe if we go to
14:45West Indies and if we feel that
14:47there is a crunch in the games,
14:49Bumrah can do it, he should do it.
14:51And he will do it. I think Rohit
14:53will take that decision there.
14:55So it is like that.
14:57That is the thought behind it.
14:59Parash, from what we are
15:01hearing about the forecast,
15:03there may not be a game in Florida because
15:05of the rain over the next many days.
15:07Some of your batters have not
15:09made runs in the first couple of games.
15:11So how do you strike the balance
15:13between making sure that they get enough
15:15game time and the guys who are sitting out
15:17also if need be are match ready?
15:19I hope it doesn't happen.
15:21I hope the weather clears and we get a game
15:23out there. But
15:25as you said, we have
15:27optional practice sessions we have out here.
15:29Every individual
15:31will assess
15:33how much skills he requires, what are the areas
15:35he needs to focus on, work on a little bit more.
15:37If he wants to bat a little more, they do come in.
15:39And I think that is the only way we can
15:41work around is the time that we
15:43have for our practice sessions.
15:45Try and make the best of those practice sessions.
15:47I think that is the only way.
15:49In a compressed
15:51tournament that we are in,
15:53you have to make sure that you maximise every
15:55opportunity, may that be bowling or may that be batting.
15:57And I think that is what these guys are doing
15:59out here. Sometimes
16:01when you have an option session before a game,
16:03most of the guys don't turn up.
16:05Because it is left to the individuals
16:07what they feel is best for them in terms
16:09of their preparation.
16:11Some route the options,
16:13some don't. But I think
16:15in a tournament like this, I think every
16:17session counts, maybe not only skill
16:19but it is only sometimes also important to
16:21just give yourself a little break because physically
16:23you may not be up there but sometimes
16:25mentally you have got to
16:27be able to cope up with this.
16:29So that time off from a session
16:31is also important. So it is completely left
16:33on the individual of what he prefers
16:35in his preparation.
16:39I was just referring to
16:41getting game time, not so much just
16:43practice time. But I think game time
16:45is how it is, right? I think
16:47you know,
16:49I don't think it is a very rare game that
16:51all eight batsmen will bat.
16:53I think sometimes you are going to be in a situation where one batsman
16:55goes through, you lose a couple of wickets
16:57and you go through.
16:59I think that is something that is not
17:01controllable. That is how any
17:03other game will be different to this game.
17:05That is not controllable.
17:07We can only focus on what we can control.
17:09In a game like this,
17:11I don't think it would be right to just call someone out
17:13and put someone in. I think
17:15every individual is important because it is a long
17:17tournament and you are looking
17:19at the finals. So I think try and
17:21hopefully get everyone
17:23at least innings before
17:25we move to the finals.
17:29Akshar playing,
17:31is that just for batting depth
17:33or was it maybe because
17:35you weren't bowling to too many left
17:37handers, so maybe was it that?
17:39Basically what I am getting is
17:41if and when Kuldeep
17:43plays, does he play in place of a fast
17:45bowler or are you open to playing
17:47slightly less batting
17:49depth also? Both. I think both.
17:51It will depend on the opponents,
17:53it will depend on the surface.
17:55I think with Akshar also, if you look at the
17:57way the IPL, he is bold. He is bold very
17:59well. I think that is a plus advantage
18:01that we have out here
18:03for us. So in terms
18:05of the performance and the rhythm,
18:07in terms of the confidence, he is up there.
18:09So we know that
18:11in case we can't play three spinners
18:13on this wicket, it is not going to be
18:15viable to drop a spinner
18:17and drop a seamer and play a spinner.
18:19I think looking at the conditions.
18:21But also the other part
18:23that yes, Akshar does add batting.
18:25He gives you the
18:27depth as well in terms of the batting
18:29which was pretty evident
18:31in the last game because we had to promote
18:33someone like him, we took a chance. He played
18:35a very critical role for the team,
18:37got those runs at that stage because ball was
18:39challenging at that situation.
18:41It was doing seaming, swinging.
18:43So both
18:45ways, I think bowling as well
18:47and batting as well.
18:51No, I don't think. I think it's surface.
18:53It's purely on the opponents, purely on the surface.
18:55You feel maybe on the surface, you're
18:57happy, you need one
18:59extra bowler, we will go
19:01with that combination.
19:03Paras,
19:05when US played
19:07against Pakistan, Saurabh Netravalkar
19:09became a hero
19:11instantly. Mumbai
19:13boy, now lives in California.
19:15You probably have seen him.
19:17I just wanted to know
19:19your thoughts about
19:21his bowling and his rise
19:23to fame
19:25in the recent past.
19:27Extremely happy.
19:29It's like other stories that you heard in India.
19:31Someone who just played
19:33first class cricket because I remember
19:35Saurabh playing for Mumbai,
19:37played a couple of games, practice sessions
19:39prior to my time
19:41but I watched him, watched a couple of Ranji
19:43Trophy games that he's played
19:45and it was great for someone
19:47to leave out there. It must be a tough
19:49decision. It's not easy to leave
19:51something like that and make that step out here.
19:53I'm so happy that he's done,
19:55he's taken that step and he's been
19:57successful.
19:59As you said, for others
20:01who are around, he gives a hope
20:03saying that if things don't really
20:05work out there, this is the other tough
20:07option but it's still an option if someone
20:09else, someone like Saurabh can make it,
20:11why can't others do it?
20:13In terms of giving others hope,
20:15it's great but it's just purely
20:17the story that he has and I'm very happy the way
20:19he's gone about.
20:21I've also heard he works for Oracle
20:23and it's tough.
20:25It's like a pure,
20:27I don't think it's pure professional but it's
20:29semi-professional. He's working as well and
20:31you hear the stories of earlier players,
20:33older generation saying that people used to
20:35work and then practice and go to work
20:37again. It's similar. I think it's not
20:39easy but it's great that he's
20:41managing and I'm very happy about it.
20:43Paras bhai,
20:45India-Pakistan match, we made it
20:47119, Pakistan was bowling
20:49and the conditions were very favourable.
20:51India was bowling
20:53and it was sunny,
20:55the atmosphere changed.
20:57What was the discussion at that time?
20:59How to win the match?
21:01What did you talk to the bowlers?
21:03Honestly, the thing is
21:05I didn't talk much
21:07in between.
21:09The thing that happened earlier,
21:11everyone knows what the plans were.
21:13One thing is that when
21:15a batsman, like Rohit,
21:17who is playing inside,
21:19he can speak better
21:21about the conditions.
21:23What was difficult for him,
21:25which lengths were difficult.
21:27Obviously, the wicket was better.
21:29There was some moisture at our time.
21:31When we were watching the toss,
21:33the spikes were going inside.
21:35There were some overcast conditions,
21:37the ball was shaking. But definitely
21:39the conditions were there.
21:41Rohit went inside and said
21:43if the conditions are difficult for us,
21:45the conditions will be difficult for them too.
21:47We can only control
21:49what is in our hands.
21:51And I think
21:53that's what it felt like.
21:55At any stage it didn't feel like that.
21:57No one's body language felt like
21:59it was 119 from the beginning,
22:01we weren't defending much.
22:03It never felt like that.
22:05I think it's a very good point.
22:07It's the quality of a team.
22:09In any situation,
22:11the body language never
22:13goes down. We try.
22:15I can't guarantee
22:17that we'll be successful every time.
22:19But if you follow a process,
22:21if you go through a plan,
22:23more or less you'll go through.
22:25I think it was very good.
22:27It didn't feel like any stage.
22:29Rohit said it felt like 120.
22:31But it was a game
22:33of 1-2 wickets.
22:35And when those two wickets came for us,
22:37especially this one,
22:39I think when they were playing under pressure,
22:41it looked like
22:43we pulled the game towards us.
22:47Thank you.