Former Sri Lanka skipper Arjuna Ranatunga believes the team he won the ODI World Cup with in 1996 can easily defeat the current Indian unit. Rohit Sharma and Co. were whitewashed in the three-match Test series by New Zealand at home and then travelled to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to suffer yet another defeat, losing the five-match series 1-3.
“When I was captaining in the early 90s, you look at that batting order as a player… Gavaskar, Vengsarkar, Amarnath. We couldn’t get them out twice…Azharuddin, Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli, Dravid followed. What quality players they were,” Ranatunga told the Telegraph.
“I’ll ask you a question. Don’t get me wrong. Do we have that class in India now? I don’t think so. I’m blunt. I’ll tell you to the face. If I have this Indian side play against my ‘96 side, I’ll get them out twice. I’ll beat India in India.”
The 61-year-old, who scored over 12000 runs across two formats for Sri Lanka, said current players are earning “good money” via franchise cricket and many of them will soon stop playing for their respective countries. “Are we teaching our younger guys proper cricket?
“Can India produce Gavaskars, Vengsarkars, Amarnaths? Maybe Tendulkars, Dravids? Tell you honestly, I have my doubts now. We Sri Lankans have the same problem. I’m glad the present guys are getting good money. You’re looking at franchise cricket.
“The players are allowed to play franchise cricket without playing for your country… You will agree with me in another five years. Ultimately, the value of playing for your country will be gone. In another five years, they will play (only) franchise cricket.”
Source: Cricket.com
--Agencies
