Send young Indian bowlers to play county cricket to regain World Cup in 2019: Dilip Vengsarkar

Dilip Vengsarkar talked about sending young Indian bowlers to play in County cricket to groom them for the 2019 World Cup

Former India skipper Dilip Vengsarkar has said that in order to regain the 2019 World Cup, India must look to groom a pool of fast bowlers and spinners. To ensure that Vengsarkar advised that they be sent to England to play county cricket so that they get a greater exposure and learn at a quicker rate over there.

“It's important to spot at least six young fast bowlers/spinners, preferably of under-23 age group, who are on the fringe of playing for India to spend at least three months bowling in county cricket (that's India's off-season) every year. They will learn much faster there,” Vengsarkar told PTI in an interview.

“They could be monitored by India's bowling coach, for he would know their development through the county coach as well. England is the best place for the young cricketers to learn and improve,” he added.

“Follow the Australian set-up”

The former right-hander, who played 116 Tests for the country between 1976 and 1992, also said that India need to develop a good bench strength and cited the example of Australia, saying that the facilities on offer over there make it easier for players at the junior level to make a smooth transition to international stage.

“Well, (as) the first and foremost (step), it's important to build the bench strength. And, that can be done with good, solid, competitive programs for the under-19s and A teams.

“That's where one can get the talent which could be groomed to play at the highest level,” he said.

“For example, the Australians have always been one of the top two teams in world cricket since they have been playing the game. Right through the first World Cup in 1975, where they lost very narrowly to the West Indies, they have always been a force to reckon with. They may lose, but they will come back stronger and hungrier to get back at you.

"They have classic, world class infrastructure with wickets that have the bounce, a solid system that produces top class players year after year. As a result, there is an easy transition of A team/first-class players into the international team. The Australian Cricket Academy churns out talent and groom them so there is a very little or negligible void when a senior cricketer retires,” the former Chairman of selectors said.

“We need to ensure that junior cricketers are nurtured properly”

Further elaborating on the state of junior cricket in India, Vengsarkar said that while India do possess an abundance of talent, it gets nurtured incorrectly as a result of which good players often lose out to make it big at the global stage.

The 58-year-old said, “Compared to Australia, cricket is the most popular game in India and as such India has young cricketers with oodles of talent but more often they are not nurtured to become international players. That's where the talent loses out.

"They look good at the under 14s and 16s level but by the time they need to show their worth around 18 years of age, they are confused either with wrong coaching methods which are inflicted on them or peer pressure," he said.

“Dhoni would love to be a part of the 2019 World Cup”

Talking about the present team, that reached the semi-finals of the 2015 World Cup, the three-time centurion at Lord’s said that by the time the 2019 World Cup comes by, most of the players would have become senior members of the team. He also praised the role played by MS Dhoni to guide India to the final four and expected him to be part of the mega event, four years down-the-line.

“Most of the players from the present team would be in their thirties in 2019. They would be seasoned players with loads of experience. However, every champion team has a good blend of youth and experience,”

“As for Dhoni, he has been outstanding throughout his career and I am sure he would love to be a part of that World Cup in 2019, of course only if his form, fitness and motivational levels permit,” the former captain said.