Manoj Prabhakar positive about Delhi’s performance in Ranji Trophy despite missing key players
The new Delhi coach, (domestic cricket) Manoj Prabhakar, has his sights all set on establishing the team into serious competitors for the upcoming Ranji Trophy. Delhi, in spite of providing a regular stream
of world class cricketers to the Indian national team, has struggled to excel in the leading domestic event. Delhi has won the premier domestic event only seven times in its 75-year history - a record that the newly-appointed coach is looking forward to improving.
Talking about his strategy for the upcoming Ranji Trophy, Prabhakar said that his goal is to prepare a blend of experience and youth that could play for the side for the next five years at least.
"My goal is to prepare a team with a solid combination of seniors and juniors that can't be pushed for the next five years and who play three Ranji finals in the next four years," said Prabhakar
while talking to the media.
He further added that there was a time when the players representing Delhi had fifty percent chances of making the national team. “I want to restore that belief among the players," opined http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Manoj-Prabhakar-c74254.
Delhi won the Ranji Trophy for the last time in 2007-08, and the man was their bowling coach at that time. This time the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) has given him a broader role. Delhi
would be missing most of its big names including the belligerent batting duo http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ashish-Nehra-c46293. All the four players would be away on their international duties,
but the coach is still hopeful about the young talent in his side.
"If http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shikhar-Dhawan-c90019 are available, it'll be good as they will form the core of the team,” said Prabhakar. “We also have some bright youngsters like batsman Unmukt Chand, legspinner Vikas Mishra,
and left-arm pacer Pawan Suyal. Even if they sit out, they would learn something from their seniors.”
Delhi will play five of its seven matches at home and Prabhakar has said that DDCA will favour its players by preparing pitches according to their strengths.
“If we have pace-bowlers in good shape and form, we might go for green-top pitches, though it remains to be seen how sporting they would be," said the renowned reverse swinger of his time.
The Ranji Trophy kicks off on the 1st of November and Prabhakar's first assignment as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Syed-Mushtaq-Ali-c92341 T20 tournament, with the North Zone leg scheduled to begin on 20th of this month.
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