Gary Kirsten: MS Dhoni has gone back to his incredible best

Remember Gary Kirsten? The same serene-looking former Indian Coach who guided the team to World Cup victory in 2011. His coaching stint with the national team may have ended after the World Cup, but he still remains one of the most respected persons by Indian cricketers.

Currently, Kirsten is associated with the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL as a Coach. In an interview with NDTV, the South African opened up and had some points to make about MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli.

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Recalling the moments after the World Cup win, Kirsten has a wide smile on his face. He nostalgically says, “I have amazing memories and will cherish all the friendships built in that time as well. We became a family.”

The man who captained India at that time and paired with Kirsten to take India over the line is still around and still doing wonders. MS Dhoni’s resurgence in the IPL has been an instant hit and Mahi is batting as he used to in his glory years. However, Kirsten does not believe that MSD has made any drastic changes in his batting style.

“He just keeps producing and his hunger for performance is amazing. I don’t think he has reinvented anything, he has just got back at his incredible consistent best,” says the 50-year-old. When asked whether MSD can lead the team to another World Cup victory, Kirsten says, “Lots of teams have a chance including India, so it will be an exciting tournament.”

The conversation then shifted from the former Captain of the Indian team to the incumbent Captain Virat Kohli and his IPL franchise.

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Opening up on Kohli’s County stint with Surrey, he said, “Players have to do whatever they can to gain an edge. He (Kohli) is the ultimate professional and I’m sure it will benefit him hugely”

Talking about his coaching stint with RCB, the South African says, “Fantastic environment and people and have enjoyed every minute of it.”

With players like Shivam Mavi, Shubman Gill and Prithvi Shaw fast-tracked into the IPL from the U-19 World Cup winning team, Kirsten believes that the league is a “great platform for any young player to showcase skills and develop their games. They get to play and chat with the best players in the game, how that cannot benefit them.”

The South African is all set to come up with a new Coaching academy in India and is organizing camps at the moment in different parts of the country. When asked about the talent that he has come across till now, he says “The talent in India is just incredible and I have been excited to see all the players come through. That is what the IPL is all about really. If you look at all the young players that have used the IPL as a launching pad for their careers, it is just amazing.”