Supplied video
Veda Krishnamurthy feels under captain Rohit Sharma India has gelled well and she is confident they will beat Pakistan whether India bat first or second. She added that India should play Dinesh Kartik along with Pant and play only five bowlers which is Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravindra Jadeja which will give depth to their batting. And lastly Virat Kohli should play his normal game as he has done in the past so many years.
See more videos at https://gulfnews.com/videos
Read more Gulf News stories here: https://bit.ly/2HLJ2km
Subscribe to Gulf News on YouTube and watch more of our videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/GulfNewsTV
#UAEnews #cricketnews #asiacup2022
Veda Krishnamurthy feels under captain Rohit Sharma India has gelled well and she is confident they will beat Pakistan whether India bat first or second. She added that India should play Dinesh Kartik along with Pant and play only five bowlers which is Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravindra Jadeja which will give depth to their batting. And lastly Virat Kohli should play his normal game as he has done in the past so many years.
See more videos at https://gulfnews.com/videos
Read more Gulf News stories here: https://bit.ly/2HLJ2km
Subscribe to Gulf News on YouTube and watch more of our videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/GulfNewsTV
#UAEnews #cricketnews #asiacup2022
Category
๐
NewsTranscript
00:00Hello and good morning to all the beautiful people around the world.
00:03The Asia Cup is about to kick-start today.
00:07And the big match between India and Pakistan is going to happen tomorrow.
00:11To discuss about all this, we have a special cricketer on our show.
00:15A woman cricketer for the first time on our show.
00:18She's played the 2017 World Cup Final against England.
00:22She was a part of the T20 World Cup Final which we played against Australia.
00:27She is none other than our pretty looking Veda Krishnamurthy.
00:30Welcome to the show, Veda.
00:32Thank you so much.
00:34I mean, I just heard you say like the first woman cricketer.
00:38So I think I'm privileged to be that, you know, number one.
00:43Oh, yes.
00:44I'll be very honest.
00:45You know, we wanted to give a different angle.
00:47We've had male cricketers coming on.
00:49And now that women cricket is catching up so much, you know, we had to get you on board.
00:53And we heard you in the Commonwealth Games.
00:55You were absolutely spot on in your analysis.
00:58And I'm sure all the fans would like to hear about you for the Asia Cup.
01:02I mean, just something which I've been doing for the past 17 years.
01:06So it sounds like a lot of years.
01:08I'm not that old.
01:10Just putting it out again.
01:11I'm not retired.
01:12That is again, I'm putting it out.
01:14But yeah, I mean, you kind of sit and watch everything, whatever's happening.
01:22And it's not because only I'm commentating.
01:24I'm watching a lot of games.
01:25It's been something since, you know, I started playing cricket.
01:28I watch any cricket which is on TV, even the highlights.
01:32I keep watching.
01:33It's something which I really love doing.
01:36And when you're watching so much, you kind of come up with things like maybe if you are
01:40in this situation, what you would have done or what your team would have done.
01:44So that is something which has always been there for me.
01:48And I feel I'm like, you know, lucky that way that I'm getting to call the games as
01:54well now doing a bit of commentary in my off time.
01:58And I'm really enjoying it.
02:01Absolutely.
02:01As you mentioned offhand to me, you know, you have to live your passion, whether you
02:05are playing or not.
02:06And when people say something, as I've always said, you got to move on.
02:12True.
02:12Very true.
02:13I mean, I completely agree to it.
02:15Kind of like I can feel every letter, every word, what it means, especially that statement
02:22that you made.
02:23Let me tell for the record, for all of you know, viewers that Veda made a debut in 2011.
02:29It was an iconic year for India when India went on to win the 50th World Cup.
02:34But now I want to ask Veda about the 2017 Lords final.
02:39How was that experience, Veda?
02:42The experience was amazing.
02:44Like, you know, when we went for the World Cup, there was not much expectations out of
02:50us because the previous three, four, 50 overs or T20, the ICC tournaments, India had really
02:57not done well.
02:58And not many knew about the World Cup happening.
03:02So thanks to ICCA, BCCI and all of them who kind of, you know, put out huge ad boards,
03:09especially during the Champions Trophy.
03:11Champions Trophy happened just before our World Cup.
03:14And there was big hoardings in the stadium during the match where it said that Women's
03:19World Cup is going to start soon and all those kind of things.
03:23But people back here in India didn't exactly know about what was happening.
03:27And when we played the first game against England in the thing and nobody expected us
03:34to win.
03:34And when we came back and beat the home team in the first game, there was a lot of news
03:40and buzz which was happening.
03:41And us being kind of in a shell was kind of aware that, you know, a lot of things, a lot
03:46of talks happening around us in a positive way.
03:50Like, you know, people are liking the way we played and stuff like that.
03:53And then it was Pakistan again, the next game, of course, as expected, a huge crowd coming
03:59in to watch you.
04:01But the next few games, to be honest, it was not supposed to be aired on TV.
04:06And all of a sudden, even while we're playing, we get to know that it is being aired because
04:12people want to watch you guys play.
04:14So that was how, you know, things got into the mix when we made it to the finals.
04:20We usually see crowds coming in just after toss, especially.
04:24And we went in, obviously, we go an hour and a half before to the ground.
04:29When we walked into Lodz, there was a lot of buzz around and we were not sure what is
04:33the noise.
04:34And that, obviously, the famous pavilion in Lodz, you walk out and you see that there
04:39is almost, I like to say, like 40% of the stadium was full, even before we entered the
04:46ground.
04:47And then people are lined outside trying to, you know, make sure that they're walking
04:51before the toss, be there, be part of this iconic event, whatever's happening.
04:55And that kind of gave us a goosebump.
04:58We went on for warming up.
04:59We couldn't hear each other.
05:01That was the first for all of us.
05:03Yes, crowds have come in later on in the game.
05:07The buzz has been there.
05:08But just before the match started, you know, the crowd, the vibe and things like that.
05:14I think that is something which was, you know, way beyond my vocabulary to explain what
05:21exactly it is, but absolutely loved.
05:24I mean, though, unfortunately, we couldn't, you know, get past the line and we were shot
05:28by nine runs.
05:29But end of the day, that is something which is going to be an iconic event for cricket
05:34here in India, especially after that.
05:36You've seen this huge difference.
05:40There's a lot of girls who want to come and play immediately when we came back, when we
05:45go to academies and things like that.
05:48And you see a number of girls, you know, the enrollment has increased and the girls want
05:53to take it as profession.
05:55And I think I'm very proud for the fact that I was a part of such team which could bring
06:00this kind of revolution for cricket in India.
06:05Mind you, the revolution has already come, Veda.
06:08Even though you guys have not crossed the line, but you all have made us proud.
06:12And, you know, we bow our head towards you girls.
06:15Thank you so much.
06:17And I have to ask you about the 2017.
06:20I know we couldn't cross the line.
06:22So near yet so far.
06:23Were there tears in the eyes?
06:26I mean, it's just not tears.
06:27We're bowling and, you know, literally like a session which happened after all.
06:34Of course, it took us a lot of time to sink it in.
06:37We were in the dressing room for close to two, three hours after the game, I think.
06:42Like one hour just by ourselves trying to figure out what exactly happened and sink
06:47it in.
06:48And after that, our fielding coach at that moment, he came in and he said, you know,
06:54it's better if you tell what you felt about today rather than, you know, you go back to
06:59your room and blame someone else for whatever has happened.
07:03Excuse me.
07:03So that was one thing.
07:06And then it was like 15 of us starting off one by one, one by one explaining and then
07:13like literally having tears in our eyes.
07:15It was like all of us crying at the same time.
07:20We had this thing that at that point we wanted to win it for Jhulan and Mithali who have
07:25done so well.
07:27And half the disappointment was, you know, we couldn't do it for them.
07:32That was the most consistent answer that everybody gave in that meeting.
07:38But feelings and emotions, I think that was really hard for us to take it.
07:43We went back to the room only after like 10 or 11 in the night.
07:47We were just there in the dressing room.
07:49We didn't know what to do.
07:50We were all so upset.
07:52I mean, it took me a couple of days to get back to sleep.
07:56I had a couple of friends who wanted to meet me, my childhood friends who have played
08:00cricket here in Bangalore.
08:02So they had come to the ground and they're like, OK, we'll just meet you before we leave.
08:08And I said, you guys carry on.
08:09I don't think so.
08:10We'll be coming back anytime soon.
08:12But, you know, they were waiting there in the reception, in the lobby for four hours,
08:17five hours straight just to make sure that I'm OK.
08:21You know, they felt that, you know, maybe I'd need a friend at that point who would
08:27be, you know, not say anything, not do anything.
08:29They've seen everything, whatever's happened in the game.
08:31Just be there saying that we're there for you and stuff like that.
08:34So, yeah, I mean, went back to the room and just to cheer me up, they ordered some pizzas
08:40and stuff like that.
08:41OK, you need this now, eat some pizzas and feel better.
08:45And we were talking for until morning in the in that day.
08:50And it took me two days to get back to sleep.
08:52And I couldn't sleep every time I closed my eyes.
08:54I could remember the way I got out and 95 percent of them feel that I'm the villain
09:00of that game.
09:01So that's all the more something which I think I'm going to carry to my grave.
09:05But nonetheless, like I said, I did what I could do.
09:09It's not that I can go back and change it at this moment.
09:11But I have to live with it.
09:14Well, I can feel in your words even now that you are feeling the pinch of that game.
09:18But life moves on, you know, you win some, you lose some.
09:21There will be a time when Indian women will definitely cross the line.
09:24And you will be also, you know, you can remember that I was once upon a time a part of this
09:30wonderful women's team.
09:32Yes, definitely.
09:32I'll always be a part of it.
09:35I'll always be close to the girls and always feel like, you know, I'm there.
09:40I'm part of it.
09:41Like I said, I was a part of the team which kind of created this whole buzz around the
09:47team.
09:47So that is something which will always be there with me regardless of whatever happens
09:52in life.
09:53Mind you, everybody around the world now knows the names of most of the women cricketers.
10:00I'm very happy.
10:01It is not just the name.
10:02Now they recognize us with the name.
10:04So there is a face every time a name is said.
10:07I mean, that's an instance.
10:09What I'd like to say is a few years ago, people would know my name, but they don't
10:15know how I look.
10:16Now it's like the minute they see me, they know who I am.
10:19So that is a huge difference, even at the airport and stuff like that when I walk in
10:25and all these officers who check your ID.
10:28And the minute they look at my name, it's like, oh, you're a cricketer and things like
10:32that.
10:32And that is something which, you know, kind of gives me the satisfaction of like the whole
10:36point of they have a face now to all the names.
10:39It's just not reading newspapers or, you know, hearing from someone about, you know,
10:45such cricketer, whatever, there is a face.
10:47And that is mainly because of the media presence that we've got, the opportunities we've
10:53got.
10:53The broadcasting has been brilliant in the last few years.
10:56Every game has been shown on TV.
11:00And like I said, it was 2017, what was the stepping stone for all of this.
11:05And I'm always going to be happy, satisfied, proud that I was part of that 17 World Cup
11:12team, which could bring so much changes in India for women's cricket, especially.
11:19So very well said, Veda.
11:22I have to ask you about the 2020 T20 World Cup at Melbourne.
11:26100,000 people cheering for both of the teams.
11:29Tell us about that experience.
11:31That was another set of experience.
11:33Again, like obviously nobody expected us to make it to the final.
11:37That's now two times in a row.
11:39Maybe even the Commonwealth, three times in a row, people didn't expect us to make it
11:43to the finals.
11:44And we were the dark horse doing everything right.
11:49And the day before the finals, we were actually taken to the ground half an hour early, just
11:57so that because there was practice going on since Katy Perry was performing and stuff
12:01like that.
12:02There was a lot of things happening and they were rehearsing.
12:05They took us half an hour before just to experience the atmosphere.
12:09They're like, you shouldn't feel out of the place when you go on the finals day with,
12:13you know, that's such a huge stadium filled with people.
12:17So we went in, there was rehearsals happening.
12:20We met Katy Perry as well.
12:22It was fun chat, you know, talking, interacting and stuff like that.
12:27And the next day, like, you know, you have, you go to the ground, you do your warmups
12:32and all of a sudden you're cleared from the ground.
12:35And there's a huge concert, which is happening with stadium filled with people.
12:40You can't even like, you know, see one empty stand and the sound, the roar, the atmosphere,
12:46what was created.
12:47I think that was extraordinary from, you know, the Australian board, the fans, the ICC to
12:56make sure that event like this, they depicted, they wanted a finale, like to be a grand show,
13:02something like a men's final, or probably say something like a football scenario,
13:09which they wanted to create.
13:10And we're very happy for the fact that, you know, we were able to make something like
13:17that.
13:17And of course, India making it to the finals is kind of gives a larger perspective of,
13:22you know, fans coming in.
13:24You know, how people love cricket all over the world, wherever they are, they make sure
13:29that, you know, they come in large numbers to support you.
13:32And again, the game didn't go in our favor that night, but really enjoyed for the fact
13:37that, you know, we've been part of something which was so huge, having so many people on
13:43the, on the stadium is something nobody has experienced apart from us two teams.
13:47So that again is something which will be very close to my heart, but I've been a part of
13:52a historical event.
13:54And it's been amazing, like the journey after that also has been amazing journey to that
14:00World Cup has been amazing.
14:02So when you're when you're expected not to do well, and then all of a sudden you break
14:06all the shackles, and then you go and stand there in the in the lineup and the national
14:12anthem happens, I think that kind of makes you feel really, really good.
14:16I can understand Vedha, how it can be and what atmosphere it was, we all saw it on
14:21television.
14:22And I remember in that T20 World Cup also, you guys first beat Australia in the first
14:26game and they came back to haunt you all.
14:30Yeah, it's happened now, I think, a couple of time and when in Commonwealth, we lost
14:36in Australia in the first game, we were expecting something like that happens with us as well.
14:41Obviously, it's just a broadcaster's point of view kind of try to pick up stuff and say,
14:47like, you know, something like this happened, it'll be great.
14:49Obviously, as a player, you'll not be thinking about it.
14:51But when you're outside and looking at things in a broader perspective, all these stupid
14:56things, you know, kind of starts to make sense to you.
15:00But unfortunately, it didn't happen.
15:02But nonetheless, it's only about the intent and the brand of cricket you play on the ground
15:08should be important.
15:09And I've been obviously very vocal about the fact that we want IPL to happen so that you
15:15know, we're used to of those crunch situations, how to deal with it.
15:19It's it doesn't happen early once you put in a situation like that, and you ask the
15:24girls to come up with answer, it's difficult.
15:27But we've seen Australian team, they've been playing Big Bash for years now.
15:30And they've put in situation, of course, in one tournament, I'm sure they're in that
15:35situation two, three times at least.
15:37And, you know, and they kind of learn from it, the nerves, you know, the things, the
15:42clarity, the calmness, that is something which is very, very important.
15:46And we've seen the growth of men's cricket as well.
15:49India has become a powerhouse.
15:51And IPL is one of the reasons because of that.
15:54And I'm just hoping and you know, being very, very optimistic for the fact that it will
15:59start very soon from next year.
16:01And this bridges and gaps what we have, we're going to fill in soon and we're going to be
16:07a powerhouse again.
16:09Absolutely.
16:10Absolutely, no doubt.
16:12What Vedha is saying just for the fans, once again, I want to say that IPL, when you brush
16:16shoulders with the big girls around the world, you get that experience, you get that nervous
16:23situation where you can do the jailbreak, which Australia has been doing like the Big
16:26Bash.
16:27Anyway, Vedha, Asia Cup is going to kickstart today.
16:31And the big final, rather the big match, you know, they say the mother of all matches.
16:36India versus Pakistan, the men's India versus Pakistan.
16:42How do you see this match going tomorrow for India?
16:47There's a lot of emotions, especially when India and Pakistan are playing.
16:52As a fan, as an outsider, you don't look at it as like, you know, it's a cricket game.
17:00It's always more emotions than it regardless of whatever you would like to say.
17:04And that is something which I felt as well.
17:06Every time you play, Pakistan is an extra, you get extra passionate, there's extra energy,
17:13which comes in saying that, like, what is going to happen later on, I don't care.
17:18But today I want to win.
17:20Like that is something which is always going to be there.
17:23And of course, for the fact that the previous encounter went on in such a way that India
17:30lost by 10 wickets and stuff like that,
17:33all these things definitely will be in the mind of players
17:36and will be in the mind of fans even more.
17:39Like, you know, they're all sitting like, you know,
17:41it is going to be like a perfect revenge that we want to take against Pakistan at this point.
17:45Because Asia Cup, you know, the World Cups are like the pinnacle for cricketers.
17:52Asia Cup is pinnacle for especially India and Pakistan, I'd say,
17:55because, you know, it's always been dominated by these two countries.
17:58It's not like you have someone else to come and stamp their authority.
18:03It's been these two major houses which have always been dominating.
18:07And India, of course, will want to make things right.
18:09We've not won any major cups in the recent years, and they want to set it right.
18:15And the captaincy moving to Rohit Sharma as well.
18:18You know, he has a point to prove.
18:20The only reason Virat Kohli was replaced because he's not won any major tournament.
18:26And Rohit Sharma will want to start it off really well.
18:30Because for the fact that, you know, following that up,
18:32we have the T20 World Cup as well.
18:34And it'll be like a perfect preparation for the team.
18:38And I'm happy for the fact that most of the boys are in shape.
18:43They've recovered from the injury, illness, everything apart from Bumrah, of course.
18:47That'll be a huge factor that him not being available.
18:51Harshal Patel, to an extent, also we expected will make it to the Asia Cup squad.
18:55And he's injured.
18:56But on the other hand, just read the news last night.
19:00I think that Wasim is injured.
19:02And Shahin Shah, of course, their superstar is not available.
19:07So kind of is in balance right now.
19:09Two superstar fast bowlers from both the countries are not available.
19:13And two upcoming fast bowlers also not available.
19:17It kind of sets the stage even now for both the countries.
19:21And I'm looking for a cracker of the game.
19:23I'm going to stick with the popcorn.
19:24And be in front of India, be in front of TV.
19:28And go like, oh, India, just get this game.
19:31Just for the satisfaction of all of us.
19:34No, I can understand the passion of every Indian.
19:37And brother, 1.5 billion Indians following this match.
19:41And a lot of Pakistani fans as well.
19:43They are no less.
19:44They're very loyal.
19:45They're very loud.
19:46And they're exactly like how we are.
19:48They'll also be thinking from the side that, okay, all these years we've lost ICC
19:53matches against India.
19:54We've started winning it.
19:56Now it's time for us to make sure give them a taste of what they have done for us throughout the years.
20:02So it's going to be good fun.
20:04And that kind of intent what both the fans bring, I think it makes this match more special.
20:11Very well said, Veda.
20:13I was with Umar Gul in conversation with him.
20:17He did say that the monkey is off the back of the Pakistan team when they beat India in an ICC.
20:23And he feels that the inexperience of Indian bowling might come into play with Pakistan chase.
20:28Do you see that coming?
20:33I wouldn't say inexperience because we've got Chahal who's been bowling really well.
20:40I wouldn't say the Indian bowlers are inexperienced at this point.
20:43Of course, in that T20 World Cup, we were a little bit short with the bowlers, I would say,
20:49because Hardeep Pandey was not 100% fit.
20:51You know, there's a lot of talks happening around him.
20:54But we've got him fit now.
20:56He's been bowling well.
20:57He's been batting really well.
20:58That kind of gives an added advantage.
21:00Jadeja, Chahal, you don't see inexperience there.
21:03There's a lot of experience and they're coming off good tournament.
21:06And that is something which, you know, all of them, of course, Bhuvneshwar Kumar as well.
21:12I mean, I don't see inexperience anywhere there.
21:14Probably, you know, he must be feeling for the fact that Pakistan was able to chase in
21:20the World Cup very easily.
21:22Things are going to be different this time.
21:24Though we're playing in the same country, I would say, but the time of play is different.
21:31The way teams have come off playing tournaments is going to be different.
21:36They're all a year older.
21:38Your experience, you're mature.
21:40I am expecting a factor of a game.
21:42It should be a high-intensity, high-scoring game.
21:45And whoever plays best cricket on that particular day is going to be someone who they walk off
21:51with a win.
21:52And even in that game as well, in the ICC World Cup when Pakistan beat India, it was just
21:59the level of cricket Pakistan played that day was better than what the Indians played.
22:03So, I'm sure all of that will be playing in the back of both the teams.
22:07And they know for the fact that they have to really bat well, first of all, to win.
22:12And the bowling will happen simultaneously.
22:15You're right.
22:16The experience is there in Chahal, Bhuvneshwar, Kumar, Ravindra Jadeja.
22:19What he was trying to say about the fast bowlers, Avesh and Harshdeep, who have just played
22:23a few handful of international.
22:25Okay, they have the IKL experience.
22:26That is what he was trying to say about.
22:28I don't think so.
22:29I don't see them making it to the XI, to be honest.
22:34Because you've got Hardik, you've got Bhuvneshwar, Jadeja and Chahal and all of them.
22:40And obviously, probably it'll be just one of them, either Avesh or Harshdeep who will
22:45make it.
22:46Both of them make it.
22:47I mean, I've not really sat down and thought who would be my playing level for tomorrow's
22:53game.
22:54But one person is not going to make that much of a difference.
22:58And with the experience kind of thing, they're just coming off good IPLs.
23:02So that was something which was not there in the previous edition.
23:07Because last year we saw that COVID was there, the tournament got abruptly cancelled in
23:14between and then it was moved later on in October and things like that.
23:18All that things is not going to happen now.
23:20They've all been playing cricket.
23:21They've all been playing matches.
23:23And I'm sure for the fact that things will come out in such a way.
23:28I'm just hoping that it's going to be a good game of cricket.
23:33There's no experience, inexperience.
23:35If you're not fit enough to compete with the other team, you don't deserve to be in
23:41the Indian team.
23:41It's as simple as that.
23:43And it's same for the Pakistan team as well.
23:45Once you're on there, it doesn't matter what you are, who you are.
23:49If you've played one game, if you've played 100 game, you have to feel that you're going
23:52to be on par with your counterpart, regardless of who it is.
23:57So that is something the mindset will be there in all of them.
24:01And Rohit Sharma is a leader who kind of brings out the best in each player.
24:07He's very calm, composed, loves his tactical moves that he makes on the field, bowling
24:12changes and things like that.
24:13So this is something which I also will be keeping an eye on because he's obviously
24:20led India and Asia Cup before, but he was just like a standing captain when Virat was
24:26not available and things like that.
24:28This is the first big tournament for him after he's announced as an all-format captain.
24:33So that is pressure and I'm very keen to see how Rohit Sharma will take that challenge.
24:40You said you have not made your homework about India playing again, but I want to put you
24:44in a spot now.
24:46Let me start with the batting order rather.
24:49What should be your batsmen?
24:51Because there is some sort of a talk that whether DK and Pant play.
24:55They have been playing both of them together, aren't they?
24:58Like they've been trying to...
24:59They have been.
25:00So I want to get your viewpoint.
25:02Whom do you want to be your six or seven batters?
25:06Wait one minute.
25:08Let me go back into the team, pick it up.
25:17Can I get a list?
25:19Okay, I will tell you.
25:20It is going to be KL, Rohit and Virat, obviously there's a very big difference.
25:29Then you have Surya at no. 4, you have Pant at 5 or Hardik at 6, either way it's 5 or 6.
25:38I think it's going to be Pant at 5, Hardik at 6.
25:42And then Jaddu at 7.
25:44Jaddu at 7.
25:45Hardik at 6.
25:46And then Jaddu at 7.
25:48Jaddu at 7.
25:50And then you have four bowlers.
25:53Or do you want one more batsman?
25:54Do you want DK in the squad?
25:57It depends on what the four bowlers are.
26:00Wait.
26:00Hardik, Jaddu, Chahal, Bhuvneshwar.
26:04Four.
26:04So do you want to go with six bowlers or do you want to go with five bowlers?
26:08I think they will consider Hardik and Jaddu to be the bowlers who can bowl four overscore.
26:14They will go with DK in the squad.
26:19They go with five bowlers, according to you.
26:21Including Jaddu and Pandya.
26:24That's what you feel?
26:25Yeah.
26:25So you will have DK in your squad?
26:27I will have DK in the squad.
26:29And who would be your bowler in the fast bowling apart from Pandya and Bhuvneshwar?
26:33Whom do you pick?
26:34Ashdeep or you pick Avesh?
26:37I'd pick Ashdeep.
26:39And why?
26:40Because for the fact that first thing is a left-armer.
26:44Kind of brings in a different aspect for the game.
26:47And he has bowled really well, especially in the death over with his slow one.
26:51You know, the control that he has with the newer ball as well.
26:55He kind of moves really well.
26:56He's very consistent because Avesh Khan is someone who's not that consistent.
27:01If he goes for runs, he goes for plenty.
27:04And if he's got a good start, then he kind of picks up wickets at the beginning.
27:11So with Bhuvneshwar, obviously, we'll be opening the bowling.
27:15And you want someone to complement Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
27:18So I'd go with Harshdeep.
27:21And of course, Chahal and Jaddu and Pandya have been bowling really well.
27:27All throughout IPL, whatever games they've been playing.
27:30And the fitness of Jaddu and Hardik is something which is going to be very,
27:36very crucial for India throughout this campaign.
27:38If they have to go in with this kind of a thing that you have five bowlers and,
27:44you know, six batters, you need to create all-rounders like they are who can do both.
27:51They can bat up the order.
27:52They can score runs.
27:54They can pick wickets.
27:55You need someone like that.
27:56If either of them gets injured, that is where the dilemma will start for India.
28:01So it is very important that these two are in sync and doing really well.
28:06Because if you have Hardik, Jaddu, Rishabh and DK as your finishers,
28:14with Surya being in amazing form as he is,
28:18I think you're looking at a very dangerous batting lineup.
28:21All right.
28:22But I have to ask, imagine you are the captain.
28:24You are Rohit Sharma.
28:25You're going with five bowlers.
28:27And there is a tendency that you might have one bad day for one of the bowlers.
28:32Who do you turn to if you play DK and don't play Huda?
28:37See, you know, Huda has been doing really well.
28:41Nothing against him for the fact that.
28:43But sometimes what happens is you're up against such people who've done great service
28:49for the Indian team.
28:50You kind of go like, you always will have to back.
28:53Because Huda, if he's going to come in, he's not going to come in in place of DK for sure.
28:59If he's going to come in, it has to be a Virat or, you know, someone like a Surya or a KL.
29:05But the things they have done, Huda, yes, he is in form.
29:08He's been doing really well.
29:10But he just has to sit and wait for his opportunity to come in.
29:13And, you know, and that's what he's done.
29:16He's got opportunities.
29:17He's grabbed it, scored, bowled really well.
29:20But he's not going to come in place of DK or someone like that.
29:25If probably, like I said, again, if Hardik or Jadeja gets injured, Virat gets injured,
29:31the first name would be, it'll be like proper replacement would be Deepak Huda.
29:36Either you want to pat him at number three or you want him as an all-rounder in between.
29:41But it's not someone, you know, you would want DK to be replaced or DK's position what
29:47he's done, because that is something, you know, you'll have to weigh in for the fact
29:52that what Virat has done for India so long, what KL has done, what DK has been doing now
29:58in a few years, that's a different role completely what Huda has been doing.
30:01Huda has been batting up the order.
30:03He's not done the finishing role.
30:06So I don't think so.
30:07This is how I would think.
30:09And this is how Rohit also would think.
30:12Just keeping my finger crossed that we match in our thoughts.
30:17But like I said, if probably something happens to any of these people and obviously the first
30:24choice would be Huda.
30:27All right.
30:27So Vedha has announced her playing 11 and she believes this is going to be in the park
30:31tomorrow in Dubai Cricket Stadium.
30:33Now, I have to ask you this question.
30:36We all know Virat has gone through a tough time as far as batting form is concerned.
30:40India has been playing that aggressive brand of cricket in the last probably six months
30:45or rather nine months from the time Rohit has taken where they are playing that Gungo
30:49England style of T20 cricket.
30:51Do you think it is going to be difficult for Virat to adapt to this style or should he
30:56stick to his style of accumulating runs and then going big or should he start going berserk
31:03from his first ball?
31:05See, it's important that Virat obviously clears all of these things in his mind before
31:11coming in.
31:11It looks like he has a lot of things running in his head, whether to play attacking, whether
31:16to play defensive, whether to play him.
31:20But eventually, when you've got batters around you, like you've got Rohit, you've got KL.
31:26Of course, KL is more of a conventional.
31:28He kind of goes big in the end.
31:29But you've got Rohit, you've got Surya, Rishabh, DK, Hardik around you.
31:34You don't have to do anything fancy or cute, especially for Virat.
31:40He's someone who is technically so good.
31:43He kind of understands how to do things.
31:48He scored thousands of runs for India and he's done it in his own way.
31:53It's not like he's gone and become someone else.
31:55And of course, he's had a lean patch in the last couple of years.
31:58But the experience that he has of playing in that pressure situation, playing against
32:03Pakistan, he's done so well against Pakistan, to be honest, apart from the last ICC World
32:09Cup.
32:09So I'm sure all of these things will be there.
32:14And for the fact that coach and captain are backing him, regardless of what it is, you
32:19are going to be our main player.
32:21And that kind of gives the confidence as well for you as a player.
32:24And hopefully we see a different approach from Virat this tournament.
32:29And to be honest, he doesn't have to do anything fancy to get runs.
32:33He just needs to make sure that he plays 10-15 balls.
32:36And when he does that, we know how dangerous he can be.
32:39And I'm sure he will also be thinking with the likes of all these power hitters around
32:45him.
32:45He just has to make sure that he's there, build a partnership and ensure that he sets
32:52that launchpad for Rishabh, DK, Hardik and Chandu to come in and smash in the last few
32:59years.
33:00I'm glad you said this, that Virat has to play the way he has scored so many runs for
33:05India and not try to adapt the style what the other players.
33:09But we'll have to wait and watch what sort of style he's going to show in this Asia Cup.
33:16The Pakistanis, in fact, are hoping that Virat comes in form, whether it is Shaheen Shah,
33:22whether it is the leg spinner Shadab Khan.
33:25And apart from that, the whole India.
33:27So I'm sure runs are on the cards for him.
33:31There is.
33:32It's just like one thing where he needs runs in one innings.
33:36And then you will see how it goes about for him.
33:39He'll become a different player altogether.
33:41We'll see the old Virat Kohli, what we've seen a couple of years ago, scoring every
33:47match.
33:47We always wonder how he's managing to do that.
33:51There was a period that he was scoring hundreds after hundreds.
33:53Every time he's walked in and he looked like he's going to get 100.
33:56And form, patches, these are very common for cricketers, I would say.
34:02It's not like he's getting unfit.
34:05It's not like he's not focusing and things like that.
34:07It's just a form.
34:08It's just a phase in his life at this point, which is going on.
34:12And I'm sure he will have to find a way to come out of it because he cannot be in the
34:18situation throughout and say, like, I'm going to play cricket like this.
34:21He's very competitive.
34:23The day he feels that I'm not up there, I'm not up to the mark to compete at this level,
34:28I think he will walk away and say, like, I'm done.
34:30I can't do it anymore.
34:31But he still feels there's a hunger in him that he knows that he's still the best.
34:36He can compete and things like that.
34:38And he wants to make things right.
34:40A lot of fans are waiting for him to get back in form.
34:44And that will be like a celebration.
34:45And if he does it tomorrow against Pakistan, it'll be a cherry on the cake, I'd say.
34:52Well, Minksarkar said he hopes for a hundred.
34:56Vedha says it will be cherry on the cake.
34:58The Pakistanis want him to get into form.
35:00Okay, they don't want to get him to form against their team.
35:03But we'll have to wait and watch what happens tomorrow.
35:06If I have to ask you about the Pakistani team, who's the players you need to watch out for?
35:10See, Babar is someone, every time I watch, I go, wow.
35:16The kind of shots he plays, especially, obviously, the cover drive.
35:20Everybody talks about Babar's cover drive.
35:22But for me, it's his back foot punch that he plays.
35:25He looks so calm.
35:26He looks so balanced when he's playing.
35:28And it's not an easy shot when someone's bowling at 140, 145k.
35:32And you rock back as if they're bowling at, you know, 120.
35:36Or they're giving you a knocking and you just rock back and, you know, time it so well.
35:40So Babar, of course, will be a big threat for India, I would like to say.
35:45And of course, you know, I shouldn't be saying it on air.
35:49I'm glad that Shaheen is not participating.
35:54Hopefully, he gets, you know, he recovers well and get well as soon as possible.
36:00Nothing hard or nothing against him.
36:02But he's been a big threat.
36:04We've seen the Indian top order against left-arm seamers, especially.
36:09They struggled a bit, you know, be it Trent Boult or be it him in the ICC tournament.
36:15So kind of a relief that he didn't make it.
36:20But yeah, I mean, that was something which I was very curious to see
36:24what plans Rohit and KL have come up against the left-arm seamer.
36:29You know, that would have been a great challenge.
36:30And as a cricketer, you know, you want to learn from things and, you know,
36:34how they're going to go about.
36:35I was very keen.
36:36I was very keen to watch them, how they deal with the threat of Shaheen Shah.
36:41But that is something.
36:43And of course, you know, there's a lot of other cricketers as well.
36:48Like Rizwan is being doing amazingly well.
36:52So that partnership, especially.
36:54First thing, as Indian fan, for me, it is like, you know,
36:57break their partnership in the opening stand.
36:59And then we'll see what will happen later on.
37:02So that is there.
37:03That is there with us since the World Cup.
37:05That we couldn't break their partnership.
37:07So now we want to get one of their wickets.
37:10And then we'll see what to do about it.
37:12What about Fakhar Zaman?
37:16Fakhar Zaman.
37:18You remember the championships?
37:20Trophy 100?
37:21The no ball of Bumrah?
37:23I remember the innings.
37:24He's got 199.
37:26I remember when he's come and literally changed the game.
37:30I think he's someone more like Rishabh Pantish.
37:33When it comes to his game of cricket, doesn't really care what the situation is.
37:38He's like, my way or highway, I'm going to go and play my shot.
37:42He's so strong.
37:44Can access all areas of the ground.
37:47So that is what I'm saying, right?
37:49Like, you know, first thing is like you break Rizwan and Babar.
37:52And then when Fakhar Zaman comes, obviously, like, you know, someone like Chahal.
37:57Who's so smart with this thing.
38:00Though he's a leg spinner, but he really goes well to like the left handers.
38:04With his googly and things like that.
38:07If you are asking me, I'll obviously give you all biased answers.
38:10I'm like, okay, you tell him, I want him to get out.
38:12You tell him another name.
38:13I said, I want him to get out and things like that.
38:16But, you know, obviously Shadab is someone who's been doing well as an all-rounder.
38:21You know, he comes in and score runs.
38:23And bowls those nice leggies like quicker through the air and pushes it through.
38:30And it's quite amazing to see how, you know, the powerhouses of India and Pakistan.
38:36You know, in world cricket, they're making statements and they're dominating.
38:40And they're saying like, oh, well, we are the team to beat.
38:43If you want to set something right, you beat us and then show it to us.
38:47Then we'll agree to whatever it is.
38:49So, that is something which will always be there.
38:52And, you know, I can't really explain to you how excited I am for tomorrow.
38:58Like I said, there'll be popcorns and, you know, I'll be in front of TV glued.
39:02Rootings for India saying that, come on, make this right.
39:06Just before the World Cup, we've got an opportunity to feel good about ourselves
39:11and go into the World Cup.
39:13I don't want to scare our fans or you.
39:15But they have a new bloke in Haider Ali who is very talented.
39:19They have Khushdil Shah and the finisher Asif Ali who I remember at the same ground in Dubai.
39:24Asif Ali, I want to talk about him.
39:28I mean, I have not seen anybody just walk in and hit sixes the way he did.
39:33And I still remember one of the innings where he was six, seven balls and he had scored
39:38some four, five sixes.
39:40And I was like, oh my God, wow.
39:42Where did they find him?
39:44Like, you know, someone who can just turn the game around.
39:47It's not like, you know, every ball is an event.
39:52You have to make sure that you're there, present, understanding, realizing what it is.
39:56It is not about getting two wickets and then saying that, OK, we can run through the batting
40:01order or you pick up five wickets.
40:03Someone like an Asif Ali comes in and he was like, OK, right.
40:06What have I got for you?
40:08Bang, bang, bang, sixes and stuff like that.
40:11And of course, I've watched Haider Ali very closely as well.
40:15When he made it to the debut, it was a bright youngster coming in.
40:20There's a lot of expectations around him because he had scored a lot of runs in under-19 cricket
40:26and a lot of runs in wicker strike rate.
40:29That is something, you know, it's become a norm these days for people playing white
40:34ball cricket.
40:35It's not about how many runs you score.
40:37It's about how quickly you score.
40:39And Haider Ali had consistently done that.
40:41And that was the reason he was picked as well at first go for Pakistan when he made his
40:47debut.
40:47And I mean, it's a good bunch of cricket.
40:51I always wonder, you know, if India and Pakistan, if not for the separation and things like
40:56that, our cricket team would have been like extraordinarily amazing.
41:00Like just imagine the likes of Sachin and Waseem Akram playing together or, you know,
41:08things like that.
41:09So I think that is something which is always there.
41:11Like now, imagine Virat and Babbar batting together, which obviously eventually we will
41:17not see anytime soon.
41:19Shaheen Shah bowling with Bumrah.
41:21So that is something which always feels the kind of skill, the kind of talent we produce,
41:29you know, in India and Pakistan.
41:31You cannot match those skill level anywhere else.
41:34Maybe you will find a lot of grit, confidence, self-belief in players like Australia, England,
41:42where they're ruthless and they think like, you know, we are the best and, you know, have
41:46that kind of an attitude.
41:48But pure skill from the time you're young, like you just give, there are a few people
41:54you just, they just hold back and automatically they're so natural.
41:58Like, you know, they look like, you know, they're born to play cricket.
42:01You won't see that often with the other countries, but India and Pakistan is two talented, rich
42:09countries, so skillful.
42:11You look natural athletes on the field, you look like you're there, you're born to play
42:15cricket.
42:16And that is something which is very amazing and very fascinating.
42:20Is it, it might be because, you know, we're very close in the borders as well as few waters,
42:29which we share, few things that we share, but it's in us, I would feel.
42:34And we've, even in women's thing also, like, you know, the skill level of Pakistan, the
42:41skill level of India, you don't see it, you know, anywhere else.
42:46But yeah, I mean, it's very, very fascinating.
42:48I hope someone is watching this, someone who does research, like scientists and things
42:53like that, they come up with, come up with an actual answer why we are so naturally skilled
42:58and naturally so talented when it comes to, especially sport like cricket.
43:04Well, that I can see the exuberance of Vedha here.
43:07She hopes that had the borders not been made to see Indians and Pakistan play together,
43:12who knows?
43:13One day we will have them in the IPL, we'll have the test matches and we get to see the
43:18best of best.
43:20Definitely, I hope so.
43:21Like, you always have to sit back and hope for the betterment of cricket.
43:27And that is something, it will happen when all of us are in it together.
43:31So don't like for the fact that there's a lot of separation and stuff like that.
43:36Everybody wants to be playing every format, every tournament.
43:40And hopefully, you know, somewhere down the line in future, we'd see something like that.
43:46Now I have to ask you my final question of the day.
43:49It's been a lovely conversation.
43:53Let me complete my question.
43:56Vedha, last year in Dubai, most of the teams won the matches batting second.
44:04That was the whole norm.
44:05Even the eventual champions, Australia, they won all batting second.
44:09When Pakistan beat India, New Zealand beat India batting second.
44:13If India lose the toss, who's going to win the match?
44:18India.
44:22All right, we have that from Vedha.
44:24A fanatic Indian fan, bullish Indian fan.
44:28And I love that.
44:29And why shouldn't you be supporting your own country?
44:31That's how it should be.
44:32When you love your country, you will support India irrespective whether they bat first,
44:36they bat second.
44:37They are the talent.
44:38Then you have to bat.
44:40Exactly.
44:41That's why I said, whatever your question is, my answer is going to be India.
44:44That's why I was prepared.
44:45You knew this.
44:46I should have probably asked you the question.
44:50Nonetheless, Vedha, it was lovely having you on our show.
44:53This is not a big, big show like the Star Sports or the Sony 6.
44:57This is a small little show which I love and live for my passion.
45:00And I have people like you on my show.
45:04I'm pretty upset that you mentioned it's not a big show like Star or Sony.
45:09Why not?
45:10You have to just feel that it is a big show.
45:13And what you're doing for your passion, like you said, I think it's amazing.
45:18I hope that this grows way beyond anything that you have imagined or you've set your goals.
45:26And hopefully, we do it together in the future.
45:30Tomorrow, at the end of the day, when you look at it, you'll be happy with what you've done.
45:35I will be, Vedha.
45:36Definitely.
45:38God has been kind and we hope to do many more shows with you.
45:41Thank you for your time.
45:43Pleasure to have you.
45:44And we'll be having Vedha throughout all the India games.
45:47And see where India goes in the distance.
45:49Vedha is quite bullish.
45:50India will go to the left Asia Cup without a wait and watch.
45:54Definitely.
45:55Thank you so much.
45:56I had great fun.
45:58Hope to see you soon.
45:59Probably after the Pakistan game, I'm going like India, India.
46:02And the next show, I'll be like, you know, I told you, regardless of what it is, India is going to win.
46:07So hopefully, you know, it's going to be a very amazing game.
46:12Good cricket played all around.
46:14It's kind of sort of entertainment, what all of us fans want from both teams.
46:21Great, Vedha.
46:22Take care of yourself and look forward to catch up with you soon.
46:25Bye-bye.