Bhopal: Considered as the best fielder of all time, Jonty Rhodes says it is not fair to compare MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli as a captain. Jonty Rhodes, former South African cricketer, was in the capital city on Monday. Free Press conducted an exclusive interview with Rhodes on World Cup 2019 fitness and forms.
Q: Which team has better fielding standards for the World Cup?
Ans: Australia is always very good. The South Africa team is not bad. There are a couple of weak links but in general Indian team is pretty strong. Indian team outfielded South Africa in 2015 World Cup which was surprising for me. Well, I cannot quote a single team. Each team has their advancement and short coming.
Q: Can Virat Kohli fit in the shoes of MS Dhoni as a captain of team India in the World Cup?
Ans: Well, it is impossible to compare both of them. Dhoni is very quiet and calm, on the other side, Kohli is passionate and aggressive. How can you compare them both?
Q: South Africa always had had a brilliant squad, why is it so that your team always fail to make it further in big tournaments?
Ans: Rain came down for 10 minutes in 1992 World Cup semi-finals. I was there on the ground. We were leading 22 off 13 balls then it became 23 off 1 ball after 10 minutes of rain. In 1996 World Cup, Bryan Lara scored 100, sometimes it is difficult to compete with Lara. I think it was just not meant to be! You can be the number one team in the world but you are never sure that you’ll return home with the cup.
Q: What is a safe target in today’s game of cricket?
Ans: Nothing can be considered as a safe target. 350 is a good score but not a safe one. You cannot rely on the batting. You have to keep your bowling tight to stop the team from chasing 350.
Q: Do you think South Africa will miss ABD in this World Cup?
Ans: He is just irreplaceable. But you gotta play with him or without him.
Q-: Rabada and Bumrah are listed as the top best bowlers of the world. Since you have been close to both, who do you think is better?
Ans: Both are different kinds of bowlers, action wise and both take wickets in a different way. Well, one common thing is that they are both smart and intelligent. Both have improved their skills very quickly. Pace is not everything and throwing ball at a sheer pace can get you in trouble and both are not sheer pacer. Bumrah is a death bowler specialist and Rabada has little more variety.
Q: There was a time when the Indian fielders were considered just average and as of today, they are amongst the best. What was the turning point in the history of Indian fielding?
Ans: IPL was definitely the turning point. Earlier they had no exposure to international coaches but after IPL, not only they have international players but coaches also. Players are becoming more professional at a small age. So IPL has exposed young Indian players to different ways of training and they do not just focus on batting and bowling. They are now preparing to become a complete all-rounder.
Q: On which fielder you must be having an individual eye on? Your favourite Suresh Raina also missed a catch in the final of IPL 2019. What do you have to say about it?
Ans: Well I also have missed many catches so does Raina. That’s the thing I love about him. He is a human. Jadeja is excellent, different kind of fielder strong arms but you don’t see him dive around a lot. I love watching Hardik Pandya, he pulls off some great catches. Well there are a lot of them.