Robin Singh dismisses Michael Clarke's claims that IPL will give Australia edge over India in ODI series

Denzil Pinto 23:06 16/09/2017
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  • Robin Singh has dismissed claims that IPL experience will help Australia.

    Robin Singh has dismissed Michael Clarke’s claims that experience in the IPL will give Australia the edge against the hosts and is confident India will “walk away with the ODI series”.

    The teams meet on Sunday in the first of the five-match series in Chennai that pits the second and third sides in the ICC ODI world rankings.

    Last week, former Australia skipper Clarke backed the tourists to upset the 1983 and 2011 world champions, saying their time during the IPL will play a key role.

    Of the 14-man squad for the series, 10 members played in the IPL this year including captain Steven Smith (Rising Pune Supergiant) and David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad).

    However, ex-Indian all-rounder Singh, who played 136 ODIs, insists that will have no bearing and believes Virat Kohli’s side will prove to be too strong for the world champions.

    “It certainly gives them hope but if you look at it the other way round, then a lot of our cricketers played with them before,” Singh, 54, told Sport360.

    “That being said, India know exactly what they are capable of doing. But to beat India especially in India is very tough. Australia have struggled against most teams in the past.

    “It won’t be a one-sided series, Australia certainly won’t be coming here to lose. I think India will walk away with the series and I can’t see Australia beating India in this series.”

    David Warner has become a mainstay with Sunrisers Hyderabad.

    David Warner has become a mainstay with Sunrisers Hyderabad.

    Prior to the Sri Lanka 5-0 series whitewash last month, Kohli spoke of the importance of experimenting with the team with an eye on the 2019 World Cup in England.

    The BCCI kept faith in the majority of the players with pacers Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav recalled to the 16-man squad.

    There have been question marks over the futures of Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina, who have not featured for India since the ICC Champions Trophy in June and the South Africa series in 2015, respectively.

    But with the World Cup less than two years away, there’s ample time for them and others to force their way back into the national set-up.

    “It’s the perfect time to experiment,” said Singh, who will take charge of Bloem City Blazers in the South African T20 Global League later this year.

    “There’s still a long way to go. They have been a pretty successful team and I wouldn’t say they are using the series as an experiment, I think it’s about using it as an opportunity for cricketers.

    “Sometimes they are good but they don’t get the opportunity. Maybe if they were playing before in the same environment as others did, they would have achieved the same amount of stuff.

    “I think it’s about getting opportunities and creating a bigger bench of players and giving them options.”

    Skipper Steve Smith has years of experience with the IPL.

    Skipper Steve Smith has years of experience with the IPL.

    One man who has become an integral part of the Indian team is MS Dhoni. The 36-year-old looks certain to add to his 301 ODI caps on Sunday but questions marks remain on whether he is worthy of a place in the World Cup squad.

    Head coach Ravi Shastri reiterated that Dhoni will be on the plane to England in 2019 and Singh believes it’s unfair that a player, who has captained the national team to 2011 World Cup, 2007 World Twenty20 and 2013 Champions Trophy glory, would face such questions.

    “You know people have been saying this for years and years,” said Singh, who will open his RS Sports Academy in Dubai later this month.

    “It goes back to a long time when Kapil Dev was playing, people was saying he should stop playing. At the end of the day, it’s up to that person personally.

    “I think if you’ve played the game long enough and if you still have the appetite, the drill and the mindset and the will power to continue succeeding at the highest level, then it’s very difficult to tell yourself when you should stop.

    “He still is a performer. Those calls can only be his calls. If somebody starts saying that he should go then it’s unfair. For me, these are only the personal decisions that you can take.”

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