Cricket team for World Cup will be a balanced one with a potential to win, says Roger Binny

We have good batsmen in the form of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill, fast bowlers, all-rounders and spinners, and our tail-enders too can chip in with the bat, but the only area of concern is injuries, says BCCI president Roger Binny. The BCCI is focussing on bench strength, and that is why we are sending our younger players for tours to West Indies and Ireland. Apart from improving our bench strength and giving the youngsters good match experience, we want to avoid the burnout syndrome for our senior and top players, he says.

The process of selecting the cricket team for the 2023 World Cup is on, and it will be a very well balanced side with a potential to win the cup, says BCCI president Roger Binny.

Mr. Binny, a former cricketer who was a part of the team that had lifted the 1983 Prudential World Cup, was interacting with select media persons here on August 29 (Tuesday).

“We have in place a team for the ensuing Asia Cup. We have a few good batsmen in the form of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill as our mainstay, and good fast bowlers, all-rounders and good spinners. Even our tail-enders can chip in with the bat, if required. But the only area of concern is injuries. Two of our main middle-order batsmen, Shreyas Iyer and K.L. Rahul, are recuperating after suffering injuries, and we hope that they will stay fit and play some good knocks,” Mr. Binny said.

The pressure to win had always been there ever since India lifted the 1983 World Cup. After the epic win, India had won a cup again in 2011, and we were semi-finalists for four times, he recalled. “This has aggravated the pressure on the side, and it, at times, has its toll on the team,” Mr. Binny observed.

Mr. Binny, the six-foot strapping fast bowler who still looks fit to bowl a spell, said that “fitness, both mental and physical, holds the key.”

A natural athlete, Mr. Binny had also represented his home State, Karnataka, in the javelin throw, hockey and football. “Give me a seaming track, I can still bowl a spell,” Mr. Binny said with a smile.

Referring to the ensuing World Cup that would be played in India from October 5, he said, “No side can be taken lightly. Every side, be it Pakistan, England, Australia or New Zealand, has the potential, and there will always be a few surprises.”