'This not just for IPL, take example of Suryakumar’: Akmal explains why the mindset of ‘Indian cricket is commendable'
He has commended the mindset of Indian cricket as former players like Rahul Dravid to Anil Kumble to VVS Laxman are contributing to the success of the team.
India is going through a golden period in international cricket. Team India have secured Test series victories against England and Australia even though they have missed a number of first-team players. Several youngsters have stepped up to the responsibility and delivered on the big stage in spite of relative inexperience in international cricket. The likes of Mohammed Siraj, Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, T Natarajan, Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan got their opportunity in recent months and haven’t disappointed.
Former Pakistan wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal is also impressed with the talent pool of Indian cricketers. He has commended the mindset of Indian cricket as former players like Rahul Dravid to Anil Kumble to VVS Laxman are contributing to the success of the team.
“India have not compromised on their red-ball cricket. At school level, India have two-day, three-day cricket. Today, they have a pool of 50 players because Indian cricket has given a lot of importance to Test cricket. Among all the legends of Indian cricket, except MS Dhoni, no one has retired after playing white-ball cricket. All the others played a Test match as their last one. That gives us a great idea of their vision: how to build a team, how to bring in players into the Indian set-up,” Akmal said in his YouTube channel.
“Their white-ball or List A players, when they enter the international scene, they have already played 40 to 50 games. Take the example of Suryakumar Yadav, who recently made his India debut after a long wait. Most of these players have a minimum domestic experience of four to five years. When they come into the Indian team, they are already mature enough.”
“The mindset of Indian cricket is commendable. Look at all the Indian legends from the 90s - from Rahul Dravid to Anil Kumble to VVS Laxman - all of them are involved in Indian cricket in some way or the other. That is helping the new generation. And this not just for IPL; they keep an eye on domestic cricket as well, be it Virender Sehwag or Yuvraj Singh. They (India) haven’t changed their (brand of) cricket, but they have elevated their existing level,” Akmal concluded.