ICC World Cup 2023: ‘Go for a fifer, India will win’

The toast of Indian fast bowling Mohammed Shami’s UP-based coach Badruddin Siddique has a message for the highest wicket-taker of the World Cup. Gurus on how they want their wards to play in the biggest game of their lives team mid-day reports on

Dinesh Lad, 
Rohit Sharma’s childhood coach

My wish/message:
This could be your last ODI World Cup and I expect you to lift the World Cup today. When you were not selected for the 2011 World Cup, you were quite upset. But you continued to devote your life towards this game and hence your graph never dipped. A century in the final today will be the icing on the cake. By the way, your 87 against England at Lucknow was one of the best knocks of your career, according to me.

Also Read: ICC World Cup 2023: Super Sunday Showdown

India pacer Mohammed Shami (fourth from left) celebrates New Zealand batsman Daryl Mitchell’s dismissal with teammates during the semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on Wednesday. Pic/Getty Images

Also Read: Pat Cummins keen to keep one lakh-plus crowd quiet

What Rohit should do:
Just carry on batting the way you are at the moment. You are playing on the merit of the ball; not attacking cricket but the defence is equally good amidst selfless cricket. You could have easily converted your three half-centuries into hundreds. You are playing for the team and serving the country’s cause. Even your  bowling changes and field placements have played a major role in all those wins. In that way, you are helping the bowlers perform well.    
 
What Rohit shouldn’t do:
I think you know exactly what has to be done and are well aware of what you are doing as a batsman and skipper. 

Rajkumar Sharma, 
Virat Kohli’s childhood coach

My wish/message:
Continue to bat as you have done in the league and the knockout. Give your best and win the Cup like in 2011.

What Virat should do:
Deliver according to the role assigned to you by the team management. 

What Virat shouldn’t do:
I think you are intelligent enough to understand what you have to do on the big day.

Samuel Jayaraj, 
KL Rahul’s childhood coach

My wish/message:
A World Cup final doesn’t come along every day. I wish you enjoy the occasion and have fun. That’s when the best cricket comes out. I hope you have a great time in front of a big crowd because this is a night you will remember for the rest of your life.
 
What Rahul should do:
Continue to bat with freedom and purpose. At No. 5, you add a new dimension to the Indian batting. I am delighted that you have been ’keeping so brilliantly. I think you are among the best wicketkeepers in the country alongside Sanju Samson.

What Rahul shouldn’t do:
It will be better to avoid playing the pull shot unless it is absolutely necessary. You have a wide range of strokes in any case, there is no shot in the book you can’t play. But until you get your eye in, I’d like to see you not play the pull. Beyond that, I don’t see too many things that you should not do. You are a complete team man and whatever be the situation, you will always do what is best for the side.

Badruddin Siddique, 
Mohammed Shami’s coach

My wish/message:
It’s your golden opportunity to become a member of a World Cup champion team. Give me the Cup. Keep cool, don’t think too much about it being a final but be brave.

What Shami should do:
Keep it simple. Try to repeat the Wankhede performance (7-57 v NZ in semis). Try for a fifer. India will win if you can do that.  Pitching the ball on and around off stump is your strength. You must try to maintain this at least initially.

What Shami shouldn’t do: 
You mustn’t try to do anything extra. There is no need for that. You should just follow the same routine that has helped you pick those 23 wickets so far in the World Cup.

Kishore Trivedi, 
Jasprit Bumrah’s childhood coach

My wish/message:
I wish you can get early breakthroughs because that will be crucial in a World Cup final against a team like Australia. And I wish you end up with five wickets because that is a dream achievement for any bowler. It is comparable to a century by a batsman.

What Jaspirt should do:
You should continue to focus on line and length because accuracy is your strength. If you do this well, then I’m sure the yorkers will come perfectly and are unplayable. You need to approach this final like any other game. If you prepare the same way and execute your plans well, the results will follow.  

What Jaspirt shouldn’t do: 
You should not be focussed on dismissing any one particular Australian batsman because this can lead to trying too hard and that could prove detrimental. Also, you should not take any undue pressure that is associated with a World Cup final at home. It’s easier said than done, but you are capable of doing this.

Lakhwinder Singh Gill, 
Shubman’s father and coach

My wish/message:
Play the final as if you are playing any other game of cricket.

What Shubman should do:
You have to play your natural game and give 100 per cent.

What Shubman shouldn’t do: 
You mustn’t think too much of the fact that you are playing a final; shouldn’t allow that 
pressure get to you.

Debu Mitra, 
Ravindra Jadeja’s ex-Ranji coach

My wish/message:
Give your best. This is very essential for India to win. You are a live wire and you are the best.

What Ravindra should do:
I want you to take two to three wickets and save 15 to 20 runs while fielding.  The ball will turn at Motera and the straighter deliveries will fetch you wickets. You are the most dangerous cricketer in this World Cup. 

What Ravindra shouldn’t do:
No one needs to remind you of your role in the final.

Pravin Amre, 
Shreyas Iyer’s first Ranji coach

My wish/message:
Enjoy the winning habit for one more game in the tournament. That said, reaching the final is an achievement in itself.  

What Shreyas should do:
Continue playing the brand of cricket which is being played. It’s full of flair. Do justice to No. 4.

What Shreyas shouldn’t do:
Don’t lose sight of the need to focus on the process and I’m sure you will keep this in mind. Whatever you have done in the league phase and in the semi-final against New Zealand, is history now.

Vinayak Mane, 
Suryakumar Yadav’s Parsee Gymkhana coach

My wish/message:
My dream for you is for you to get a hundred. If you get into that situation and execute your plan, you’ll win the World Cup for India.
 
What Surya should do:
A No. 6 batsman will always be under pressure. You will have to handle it. No. 6 is the toughest position to bat in an ODI or a T20 game and that’s why MS Dhoni became a great player. I hope you too will perform under that pressure.

What Surya shouldn’t do:
You can take it as another game and that is the best way to think. I know you are a character who is not overhauled by any big occasion. You are tough and played many finals for Mumbai and Mumbai Indians and won them too. You and all of our players are used to playing finals and are experienced. You should be able to handle the pressure of the decider. 

Kapil Dev Pandey, 
Kuldeep Yadav’s childhood coach

My wish/message:
There is great responsibility on your shoulders. You have no option but to deliver. The body language should be positive even when things are not going the team’s way.

What Kuldeep should do:
You have been bowling very well and just need to focus on being aggressive. You are at your best when you are attacking and looking for wickets. 

What Kuldeep shouldn’t do:
Being a high-profile final there will be pressure, but you should not get into a defensive mode. You need to remain confident. Australia are five-time champions. They cannot be taken lightly, remember.

P Jyothi Prasad, 
As Hyderabad’s chief selector, picked Siraj for his first Ranji game in 2015-16

My wish/message:
I wish you the very best. Playing in a World Cup final is a big moment for any cricketer, a huge landmark for you.

What Siraj should do:
I would like you to bowl more on the off stump and attack the batter. You are a natural swing bowler. You must make the batters play and hit the right length. That is the key.

What Siraj shouldn’t do:
A final is a different ball game and it is all about holding one’s nerves. You mustn’t panic. I thought you were a little inconsistent with your line and length, particularly in the semi-final against New Zealand. 

Interviews by Subodh Mayure (Lad, Amre, Mane), Debasish Datta (Badruddin and Mitra), Ashwin Ferro (Trivedi), R Kaushik (Jayaraj), Amit Shah (Lakhwinder), Santosh Suri (Pandey), Jagannath Das (P Jyothi Prasad).

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