Yuvraj and Dhoni are important to the team says Sanjay Bangar

The Indian team is coping well amongst all the ruckus that has been going on. Anil Kumble’s departure has left the Indian team coach-less. However, the support staff is still in place and the team seems to be focused on the task at hand. Sanjay Bangar is currently helming the coaching department of the Indian team and believes the same.

Bangar made some crucial statements ahead of the second ODI against the Windies. India were on track in the first game as well before the rain poured down. The second ODI seems to meet the same fate. However, Sanjay Bangar sounded confident at his presser and answered the queries with composure. He talked about various aspects of the Indian team and countered some criticism.

On Kumble’s departure

Anil Kumble’s departure has been one of the talking points for the media. Bangar mentioned that there is a void for sure but the team is coping well with his absence. He also stated that the team has to act as professionals and such things are part and parcel of the game.

“We are professionals and such things are part and parcel of any organization where changes happen. The support staff and the players have shown a lot of professionalism in compartmentalizing the issues and so far we have coped up really well,” he said.

The team’s harmony is something which should not be harmed and everyone is making sure that doesn’t happen ensured the Indian batting coach. “Everyone’s contributed towards it (ensuring the harmony of the team) and as I said earlier, when you part ways it’s never easy. You need to accept that at times such things are going to happen, have happened in the past,” he said.

He also emphasised on the fact that the team has a lot of experience. They have players like Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni who have played more than 700 international games. “Yes, Anil was doubling up (as the bowling coach). There were a lot of positive results under him. We all know that the team enjoyed a lot of success. The void, there is definitely a bit a lacuna but the experience that this team possesses – when you have a Mahendra Singh Dhoni, a Yuvraj Singh and Virat Kohli, who’ve played close to 700 international games,” he further explained.

On Yuvraj and Dhoni

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh have been under the needle for a long time now. There are former players who have been criticising them for their scarce contributions but Bangar came out in support of the duo. He cited their performances in the recent games and said that they are very important to the team.

“It all boils down to the fitness part. If you’re fit and capable of delivering. You saw in the match against Pakistan, how the experience came to the fore – In the last eight overs we scored 108 runs and that wouldn’t have been possible without the contribution of Yuvraj Singh,” he said.

He also gave an example when the duo stitched match-winning partnership against England in Cuttack. “Even when we were four down at Cuttack, it was the experience of Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni, who got two big hundreds and put us on a score of 360. They have done these things in the last four or five months and if they manage to keep themselves fit, motivated – and I can definitely vouch that they are very motivated to play – you can only stand to benefit from their continued presence in the team,” Bangar concluded.