00:00Ryan, my question is, you played one match over here, you had some assessment of the crack,
00:07is there a chance of any tweak in the line-up or good to go with the same team?
00:13And also a question about the batting order, 3-7, what kind of tweaks can we expect?
00:20Yeah, I don't think we gleaned too much information from the first game and even from the other games at the stadium so far,
00:26there hasn't been too much to take away from it.
00:29So, unlikely to make changes.
00:32I think the biggest information takeaway is probably the difference from when we played in the Champions Trophy,
00:38the wickets played a bit differently.
00:40But we feel the combination for the first game was a right set up.
00:44And I guess what you mean from 3-7, the batting position more than anything,
00:48obviously it wasn't revealed the other day with Sanju not batting.
00:51But the overriding principle is that we want versatile players who can A, play differently in different situations,
00:57but can also bat in different positions.
00:59And I think we're very lucky with Sanju and Aksar and even Hardik,
01:03you know, the guys who can bat anywhere from up the order all the way through to 7 or 8.
01:08So it will be part of our strategy to use that versatility.
01:12And when conditions are a little bit tough like we expect them to be, I think that can be an important strategy for an advantage.
01:24This Indian team is always backed by its fans. Their presence is felt across the globe wherever India plays.
01:30But this time around, their sentiments have been hurt given what has happened in our country.
01:35Do you think when they take to the field tomorrow, there have been calls for boycott,
01:40the sentiment of our people are going to weigh on their minds?
01:43Yes, I think it will. It's obviously a very sensitive issue.
01:47And I've got no doubt the players share the compassion and the feeling of the vast majority of the Indian public.
01:53Look, the Asia Cup was in limbo for a long period of time and we were just waiting.
01:59We didn't think we were going to be coming at one stage.
02:01But obviously, you know what the Indian government stance is in it.
02:05And now the team and particularly the players, you have to put those sentiments and the emotions behind you.
02:11And it's actually something we addressed in the team meeting today.
02:14So we're aware of people's feelings.
02:17But at the same time, we've got a guard and the guys get a chance to play for their country again tomorrow.
02:21And they'll be as professional and as focused as they can be given the circumstances.
02:25Ryan, during the Champions Trophy, you have been part of one India-Pakistan game.
02:30And now this is another game.
02:32Is there any mood different and preparation?
02:35Something different you notice as somebody who is not from subcontinent?
02:39Do you see India-Pakistan game preparation or something more inside the dressing room different?
02:44Any different from other matches?
02:45I'll be honest, no.
02:47I was expecting a lot more niggle at the Champions Trophy game.
02:51I didn't really feel that either.
02:53And certainly the preparation this week or the focus hasn't been any different to the preparation of any other important game.
03:01I think Pakistan have sort of started to come to terms with how they want to play T20 cricket.
03:06So it's going to be a slightly different challenge, say for maybe the last 24 months.
03:10But we want to focus on what we're doing and how we want to play is the most important thing for us,
03:15given that we have potential of playing Pakistan a couple of times in this tournament.
03:20And obviously in the next six months as well, there's going to be a World Cup.
03:23Again, it goes back to what we said about controlling those emotions and we want to prepare for every single game in the same manner.
03:30Coach, there seems to be a bit of mind games from the Pakistani camp.
03:35Recently Mike Hassan said that Mohamed Nawaz is the best spinner in the world when compared to Varun and Kuldeep.
03:41So how do you see that? And of course Varun and Kuldeep and Akshar in these conditions, with the ball gripping a bit with the kind of heat,
03:48do you think they will be the trump card for the Indian team in this game?
03:52I think spins are going to be very important in this competition.
03:55If anything, I don't think it's gripped as much as we anticipated and certainly not like it did earlier in the year when we were here.
04:02But spin in general has become a very important part of T20 cricket and both teams have a lot of spin on offer.
04:11And we certainly now, we feel about Varun, Akshar and Kuldeep.
04:15So everyone's entitled to their opinion and they can rank their players wherever they wish.
04:20Some of the star players are missing from Pakistan.
04:23And so have you had a look at these new players and what would make the difference?
04:29You know, two, three matches, have you observed them?
04:33Yeah, that's what I alluded to earlier.
04:35I think Pakistan have decided to change direction of how they play their cricket
04:40and that obviously affects the way they're set up in terms of personnel.
04:43And it's pretty obviously you referring to, you know, quality cricketers.
04:48But I think Pakistan want to go a different way.
04:50And of course, we've done lots of homework on the guys they brought in, you know, fairly inexperienced guys
04:55in the grand scheme of things, but probably more dangerous in terms of how they want to play.
05:00And we've got our plans and our strategies for attacking that tomorrow.
05:04Ryan, since winning the T20 World Cup, India have won 18 of the 21 T20 Internationals.
05:11Out of 13, they have won 10 against Pakistan. Powerful batting, powerful balling.
05:16You think, you reckon, India start as favourite tomorrow?
05:21Yeah, I mean, that short-term record is pretty incredible and we've been very consistent in how we've played.
05:27Obviously cricket at this level is about how you execute on the day.
05:31But yeah, being totally honest and, you know, looking at the recent form and how the teams have played,
05:37I would say India do start favourites tomorrow, but we'll be focused on the 120 balls with the bats
05:42and 120 balls on the bowl and the team that is more consistent over those 240 balls will be better.
05:48So we're under no illusion as to the task ahead and, you know, a big part of what we're trying to do
05:53and looking forward is to stay grounded and just focus on getting better, the individuals getting better every day.
05:58So, you know, form counts for very little when you come to competitions, regional competitions like this.
06:04Just briefly, moving away from the Pakistan game, obviously you had a big win against the UAE.
06:09Pakistan had a big win against Oman.
06:11One of the Omani boys was here yesterday and he was talking about how they can only get better
06:15if they play more against the established nations.
06:18But obviously the calendar being what it is, it is not possible for the main sides to play.
06:22Do you think it will make sense for maybe an India-ish side to go and play Oman or a Pakistani side?
06:28Will that sort of help in the development of the associates?
06:31Yeah, I think that's a great idea.
06:34You're spot on about the scheduling.
06:37Obviously the Indian team can't squeeze another game in and other international teams aren't far behind.
06:42I'd say the difference, the gap, you know, between the associates and the test teams is so big
06:50that there's actually a sort of middle layer between and India A or other international A teams could definitely fill that gap.
06:57It's a very different style of cricket that you see the test nations playing compared to a team like UAE,
07:04what they're facing on a daily basis.
07:05So that is a very nice idea, yeah.
07:07Ryan, you alluded to transpired in the team meeting today in terms of the sentiment.
07:14The sports field has forever been used as a sign of protest.
07:18Jack in 36, Jackie Robinson in 47, Tommy Smith and John Carlos in 68.
07:25I can keep giving you example after example.
07:28Any such thought using the sports field to place something on behalf of the people?
07:32You're spot on. You saw some great examples.
07:38I guess the other side of the argument is that you separate sports and politics
07:42and people have got different opinions on that.
07:45And hopefully the way we play can represent how the players feel about the country.
07:52And I understand the position and like I explained the sentiment,
07:57but we are following the direction of what the BCI and the Indian government have decided is right for the country at the moment.
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