Shane Watson also feels Virat Kohli is the greatest white-ball chaser of all timeCHENNAI: In his playing days Shane Watson was one of the best all rounders around. He was part of three Australian World Cup winning sides (2003, 07 and 15) and knows Indian cricket inside out due to his years of IPL experience. During an exclusive interaction, Watson told TOI why he thinks India can emulate that unconquering Australian side which did not lose a single World Cup match across two editions.
Excerpts...You were part of the 2003 and 2007 World Cup winning Australian sides that won the tournament without losing a single game. What do you think of this Indian team?They exude a similar aura. This team has absolutely no weakness, as was the case with the invincible Australian teams of the 2003 and 2007 World Cups. Just like that Aussie side, this team has quality world-class match-winners all around the team. Once I saw the balance of the Indian team and the form of the players after two games, this thought occurred on me. They have just been so incredibly dominant and have a great chance of going through the tournament undefeated. A team has to be at their brilliant best to challenge this Indian side.
Do you think even if Hardik Pandya becomes fit for the semifinals, India should persist with Shami ahead of Mohammed Siraj?Yes, Pandya was lending the balancing act and hopefully he will come back. But the injury has allowed Shami to come in and bowl ridiculously well. Siraj has bowled nicely but the way Shami has bowled with the old and the new ball, I will absolutely go with Shami even after Hardik comes back. Shami's skills make the Indian attack a bit more rounded.
Do you think the Virat Kohli of this WC is the best version of the champion batter?If not the best, it's equal to the best. He had a little bit of a blip 18 months ago which was probably due to non-stop cricket and the pressure of captaincy. It is superhuman to have the intensity that he shows each time he takes the field. And the way he has batted after taking a bit of a break has been breathtaking. I would say he is one of the wonders of cricket.
Do you think Virat is the best chaser in the history of white-ball cricket?Oh yes, absolutely, he is the greatest chaser of all time. I still remember that chase of his against us in the 2016 T20 World Cup in Mohali - he was so dominant, you just couldn't get him out. I know MS Dhoni has been a brilliant chaser but Virat just keeps on doing it in T20s and ODIs. The fact that he practised these chases playing low-risk cricket as a teenager under his coach has made him this good. He just computes the chase and keeps
doing it over and over again.
World Cup: Numbers and stats in India's victory against England
Virat will break Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI centuries very soon. How do you compare the two in white-ball cricket?Sachin was outrageously good but when Virat has scored 27 centuries in chases India have won more often than not. Kohli's average in chases (65.49) is higher than Sachin's (42.33). Maybe the victory ratio has a bit to do with the teammates also - the players Sachin were playing with might not always have done enough to take India to victory when he scored a century. But what Virat is doing is nothing short of supernatural.
If there's any team that can challenge India in this World Cup, who will that be?It's Australia. They are another team that has all bases covered. It's the history they have against India makes them a challenger - just that they will have to play at their very, very best. But the fact that they have experienced players who have played World Cup finals and have won World Cups make them a worthy opponent.
World Cup: Numbers and stats in India's victory against England
Which all-rounder has impressed you the most in this World Cup?Rachin Ravindra. He has been ridiculously good. No one expected him to dominate the bowling attacks the way he has. And then his ability to chip in with the ball and get those crucial wickets - what a find he has been for New Zealand and all at 23.
(The interview was arranged by Star Sports, the official broadcasters of the World Cup)