Coach Gary Kirsten believes that India are very close to being the official top Test team in the world in these exciting times for cricket.
Coach Gary Kirsten believes that India are very close to being the official top Test team in the world in these exciting times for cricket. Kirsten, who has had a tremendous run as coach of MS Dhoni's men told ESPN: "I think India are the top Test team in the world."
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The former South African batting stalwart thinks it is great for the game to have more than one team competing for the top prize. "I think it's great that there are three or four sides now that are vying for the top place. I think teams are now believing they can beat Australia so the gap's been closed in terms of Australia coming back into the pack. So the opportunity to become the best side in the world is up for grabs over the next year or two."
Kirsten also reflected on an extremely successful 2008 for Team India, saying he is happy with the way things are going and the way he himself has adapted to the Indian set-up. "We learnt a few things up front, certainly when I first started out in terms of thinking and strategy and philosophies.u00a0 I began to understand how the Indians work and a lot of people have said to me well "you are a foreign coach". I certainly don't feel like one. I really integrated my thinking into the Indian way and just really enjoying the process".
India's main goal for 2009, according to the former opener, is to ensure that India end up as the best team in world. "We are very keen to become the best cricket team in the world. We are not far off it but we know we've got a way to go.
Potential
"We know we got the skills to be able to do that. In all forms of the game, we feel that we can be number one in the world."
The former Proteas southpaw also said he understood the expectations of the Indian fans every time the team goes out in the middle. "We have to be careful. The Indian public rightly so are expecting results on a regular basis."
Kirsten said he is excited with all the new talent that is flowing into the Indian team. But he suggested there won't be too many changes in the near future.
The Indian coach also had a word of praise for the Indian Premier League, saying the League exposes young players to "the high profile nature, to the pressure that international cricket brings."
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