We’re out here to have fun: Fletcher
The Indian players are seeking a more relaxing time on their five-match ODI tour to coach Duncan Fletcher’s home country of Zimbabwe following a “hectic” — and successful — two months.
The Champions Trophy winners have been busy recently and Fletcher will use the limited-overs series against lowly ranked Zimbabwe to allow some new players to stake their claims under the leadership of stand-in captain Virat Kohli, who replaced the rested Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the trip.
“The past two months have been hectic, too much nerve-wracking stuff happened,” Fletcher said late Monday at a dinner to welcome the visitors. “We are looking forward to a less intense tour here. I’m sure fans will enjoy the games.”
India won the Champions Trophy and a recent triangular series final in West Indies by slim margins, and has been playing non-stop in England and the Caribbean for nearly two months. The switch to a more laid back atmosphere was evident at the squad’s first training session in Harare, where players kicked a football about and laughed and joked for much of the workout.
“We are happy to be in Zimbabwe and also looking forward to having a good time out here,” Kohli said. “I believe that the games will be competitive. Our squad is a young one but we are out here to have fun.”
Behind the care-free attitude, there is an important objective for India’s future with five players in line to possibly make their debuts and graduate to first-team reckoning. New talent Parvez Rasool, Mohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Jaydev Unadkat and Ambati Rayudu are all out to pass their early examinations.
Post new comment