World Cup 2023: India won't tweak the winning combination, says Paras Mhambrey

India's bowling coach Paras Mhambrey has stated that the Indian team will not change the winning combination going into the upcoming games of the ICC World Cup 2023 as they want to carry forward the winning momentum into the tournament. Writes Meenakshi Rao.

Pune (Maharashtra): It is getting to be an endless wait for pacemaker Mohammed Shami and Surya Kumar Yadav as Team India is in no mood to change the bowling or batting line-up in the name of rotation. Carrying on with the momentum of three victories into the next game is the only priority, coach Paras Mhambrey said at his pre-match Press conference at the MHA stadium in Pune on Wednesday.

A laden bench strength, both in the bowling and batting departments, with players like Shami and Yadav, missing the dream 11, has fuelled many conversations and regrets. But Mhambrey insisted that “it's important to maintain this start really. So as of now, there is no discussion of any kind of rotation,” Mhambrey he added categorically.

Keeping a champion player like Surya who is in his first World Cup and is a known match-winner keeps fuelling speculation. Calling him a 360-degree player and a difficult batsman to bowl to, Mhambrey said, “but we need to create an opportunity, a place for him to play. The question then asked is, who do you replace him with? That's always a challenge. People always say, he should be playing. But the question sometimes is, in whose place? That's a challenge,” he said.

Asked if at all there can be a slot for him in the World Cup dispensation, Mhambrey said, “he is a match-winner. I am sure he will get an opportunity. If the opportunity arises, he will get his game.”

He also admitted that keeping a bowler of Shami’s calibre, has been a difficult decision to make. “But, we had a clear chat with him. Whenever we select a squad, we pick a squad we feel is the best for that wicket. So, sometimes you will miss out. Someone like him is missing out, someone like Ash will miss out. The quality that he brings to the team, new ball, death, it is difficult to take that decision. But you only have 11 on the field,” he said.

Speaking about the completeness Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav bring to the squad, Mhambrey said, it has been tough to miss someone like Bumrah when he was injured and out for over six months. “He is a world-class bowler. He gives you the breakthrough you require in the power plays. He's well adapted to bowl in the middle overs and he's a top gun dead bowler,” Mhambrey said.

Mhambrey, who is known to have worked hard with Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav on his bowling action, said, “his speeds have gone up. His accuracy is up there, hitting those lengths consistently. He complements in between. He is a wicket-taking option for us. In combination, both are gun bowlers for us,” he added.

Not bothering too much about a loss translating into an upset for Team India, Mhambrey said “Every game is important, every opponent is important. We want to focus on what we are going to achieve in this game. We have our plans, if we execute our stuff, we will win,” he said.

Praising Bangladeshi quick Taskin, Mhambrey said is a good fast bowler worldwide. He's done, played well, he's performed in different venues, different surfaces, maybe Bangladesh. Spinners as well, he added.

Speaking about the middle overs team collapses Mhambrey said: “The surface will always behave differently in different phases. In the last few games, it's got a little slower… in the middle overs. Sometimes you'll have to take those chances. The best phase is with the limited fielders outside the 30-yard circle and the new ball.”