I would be tapping into Sachin and MS Dhoni – Adam Gilchrist’s important message for India

After 12 staggering years, the World Cup will be returning to India and the Men in Blue will be hopeful of finally drawing the curtains on their long drought of lifting the World Cup. However, given the new format of the tournament where the teams will be playing in a round-robin system, it is a long way away from the finish line.

Yet, hopes will always remain and obviously with a bit of fine tuning, the Men in Blue can impose themselves upon the tournament as one of the finest sides on display. Former Australian captain, Adam Gilchrist, believes that the current Indian players should try and reach out to the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni to get a better hold on the pulse of the tournament.

Talking to Sportstar, Adam Gilchrist, “I can't claim to know what it is like to be an Indian player, playing in India (laughs). It’s always intriguing. If I would be in the Indian hierarchy, I would be tapping into guys like Sachin (Tendulkar), MS (Dhoni) to come in and spend time with the group if they are available, and pass on all their experience. I would have tried to get guys like Yuvraj (Singh), who had so much going on in his life during that 2011 tournament, and ask them to speak openly about it.”

He further added, “Virat, obviously, was part of that team without being a feature member of the team at that time. I would be drawing on that experience of playing a home World Cup and trying to find out how they did it. If you can keep that external noise quiet, it allows you to play your best cricket."

Gilly also had a word about the upcoming Indo-Australian series, stating, “The venues and the conditions created will play a significant part in how strong a preparation this is for Australia and India. Generally looking at various other nations and what they are doing, I can’t think of a better preparation than what Australia and India have. They are the two teams that will be definitely vying for the title, so to go up against some of the best teams in the world in Indian conditions, will be a real benchmark as to how you are travelling, leading into the tournament. There will be some jostling around with the players and some will be rested for a game or two. It gives you the entire squad and that depth of the squad will be tested, provided the wickets are similar to what's going to be provided to you in the World Cup.”