Fitness is the key mantra for winning ways, says Kirmani

Hyderabad, May 16 (UNI) 1983 World Cup winning squad member and NCA special coach Syed Kirmani today said Indian cricketers should give priority to their physical and mental fitness to win matches.

After his visit to Chennai, Kirmani is here in Hyderabad to give tips and share his expertise with young talent in the zonal cricket academies.

''It doesn't matter whether you adopt Greg (Chappell) ways or your own ways of fitness programme. The younger lot needs to be imparted with the finer points of the fitness programme. If you don't tell them how to throw themselves now, you can not teach them later,'' he told mediapersons here.

''The recent world cup has shown us that there is a big gap between the champions Australia and the rest of the teams. We need to bridge the gap in order to become the top team first, then only we can think of winning the World Cup.

''This is the reason why Aussies had won the 1999, 2003 and 2007 World Cups. They do their home work and then come to the ground to translate their hardwork in the nets.'' Blaming India's negative approach for defeat, he said, ''Indians have come closer to the title only once in 2003 after we won the coveted prize in 1983. But our negative approach has cost us the title. After winning the toss, we invited Aussies to bat first. In fact, we feared facing Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee in the morning session. And that made the difference.'' On the younger lot, Kirmani said, ''I found good talent in South Zone cricket academy for under-19 boys at Chennai and U-15 boys at Hyderabad. I am impressed by the way the budding talent is picking up the things. All they require is peptalk by senior and veteran cricketers to boost their morale.'' ''No doubt, we need to blend the team with youth and experience, but the younger lot has to grab opportunities with both hands. Now I am happy that Gautam Gambhir has shone well in the second one dayer against Bangladesh.'' Commenting on his friend Kapil Dev leading ICL, Kirmani said, ''let us see it for a season how it will help the Indian cricket.'' UNI