We have a very experienced team going to WTC final: India’s fielding coach R Sridhar

One of the major challenges for teams across the world is to find enough time to prepare for a series as quarantine restrictions end up consuming a lot of time heading into the series.

For the WTC final scheduled to take place in England, team India will be spending the majority of their time in quarantine, first in Mumbai and later in England. Quite naturally, these had led to concerns over the team’s preparations ahead of the all-important final against a strong New Zealand side.

However, fielding coach R Sridhar does not want to fret over the subject.

"I don't think we have a choice," Sridhar told PTI on how much time the team will need to ready for the big game."

"We would like to make the most of what we get because it all depends on how many days of hard or soft quarantine we are going to have when we are going to land and if at all getting a practice game so I don't think we have a choice," he added.

"It's time to be mentally smart, we have a very experienced team going into going to the final. Each guy is capable of adapting to the situation. They have played against New Zealand and played in England. So, I think that experience will count and we will have to come to the fore because we really can't plan as to how many sessions we want because we only have to take what is given to us," he said.

The ever-smiling fielding coach also talked about the positives in such a scenario. "Sometimes it can work in our favor as well because that way you're mentally more ready. It's like playing with an injury sometimes when you're injured, you tend to concentrate a little better.

"Sometimes when you're a little under-prepared, you tend to focus more and maybe that will bring the best out of us as well so that that is the kind of mindset we are going in with," said Sridhar.

On the other hand, bowling coach Bharat Arun revealed that the players have been assigned different tasks while they are at home.

"They have been given specific roles as to what they need to do. But yes, you are restricted because they cannot go out, once we regroup, then we'll have to see how best we can plan," said the bowling coach.

However, Arun agreed that New Zealand will have the advantage having played two Tests against England before the final.

"See, it is definitely an advantage for them...the getting used to English conditions and things like that. but then we'll have to recall (our past experience) in England...," he said.

"...you know, bring about the experience of the players and the support staff, to make our plans, the scheduling is such that this is what it is. You have to work around that," he added.

However, the bowling coach also talked about how New Zealand playing England will allow India the opportunity to observe the game of the Kiwis in English conditions.

"England is playing New Zealand before us. So that will give us a good insight into how the New Zealanders are playing in English conditions, and also how the English men are playing right now.

"The present form is extremely important for us to plan and the quarantine period in England would give us enough time to take into consideration all the factors and make plans accordingly," he said