India bowling coach Bharat Arun praised rookie Shivam Dube, saying that the all-rounder is gaining confidence with every international game that he plays.
Dube came into the limelight with his big-hitting prowess during an innings of 54 in 30 balls during the second T20 International against West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram.
He hit four sixes in that innings apart from a good show with the ball in an earlier series against Bangladesh. “He [Dube] is an exciting prospect and I think he is gaining in confidence with every game. Even you if look at the way he came back the way after he bowled the first over [in Mumbai] against West Indies, I think that was creditable. For Virat [Kohli], to show faith in him after the first over and also for him to bowl a good spell after that.
“And I think he is an exciting talent for us. As he gains in confidence, he will become a good all-rounder,” Arun said.
The Indian bowling coach said Deepak Chahar has got everything in him to do well consistently at the international level.
“Deepak has been exceptional even in the IPL. He is someone who can move the ball both ways. He is also a very skillful bowler, bowling slow bouncers, yorkers, I think with so much skill on hand... let me put it this way, he has got everything in him to do well at the international level.”
Wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal haven’t featured together in recent games unlike the last two years in the lead up to the World Cup.
“See, we were looking at an ideal combination which lends absolute balance to the team. Also there was an option to use Ravindra Jadeja as an all-rounder. That really helped us. There may be occasions when there may be conducive conditions where both can be used. We have to look at overall balance of the team,” he said.
Looking ahead to the first ODI against the West Indies, who have aggressive batsmen, Arun believes his bowlers can tame the rival batsmen.
“Definitely, I think yes [Indian bowlers can do well]. The last two out of three games we have won, the bowling also has done pretty well. I am sure we have the bowling to restrict them, but West Indies are an extremely competitive side. But when their batsmen come after you, you also have a chance against them.”
Arun said that the team was not overtly worried about the dew factor. About the fitness status of paceman Bhuvneshwar Kumar, he said the physios are taking a call and they would be giving a press release later in the evening after the assessment.
About the Indians having a number of quality fast bowlers presently, Arun said it augurs well but it would be horses for courses policy. “The more number of bowlers do well, I think it augurs well for us. So it gives you a varied pool of bowlers to choose from. Also we would be seeing the conditions, New Zealand would be different, Australia would be different. So it will be horses for courses..,” he added.
On not playing right-arm off-spinners more in the ODIs, he said: “As it is, if you look at Jadeja, you have a readymade all-rounder for us. Jadeja, after the World Cup, he has been exceptional for us. He bowls well, bats well and is the best fielder in the world. He adds a lot of dimension for us.
The question was in reference to local lad Washington Sundar, who is not a part of the ODI side. “I am sure Washington in due course will stake his claim for the ODI team. Every time he is given an opportunity he has done well with the ball.
I can that tell you he is more than a capable bat. Every time he has got an opportunity he has played a cameo. I am sure in the future he would be somebody who you would be considering for the one-day scenario as well,” he said.
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