Mangaluru : Former Indian team captain and ace spinner, Anil Kumble expressed confidence in Team India to win the World Cup. 

Speaking to reporters here on Friday, January 9 at Nehru Maidan cricket ground, Mangaluru, on ‘Anil Kumble’s Spin Stars Contest’ for spin bowlers aged betwen 10 to 19 years, who is here for a camp to select spinners, hoped that the Indian team will retain players who have played in both tests and one-dayers in the World Cup squad.

On the retirement of M.S. Dhoni from the test, Mr. Kumble said is quite difficult to be a captain, wicketkeeper and batsman and manage fort. “It is never easy captaining the Indian team which he has done for six years.” Mr. Dhoni needed his mind to be fresh for the World Cup and “his comfort zone is the shorter format”.

For his Spin Stars Contest he said, the spin bowlers selection is going on, 2000 students registered from Bengaluru , 200 students from Mangaluru and 600 students from Hubli. The finals selection will be held in Bengaluru on January 18, 2015.

Only 20 students will be selected for finals and they will trained in the summer season. All selected students will get cricket kits. Top three students will be rewarded with Rs 1 lac each for their studies, he said.

Appreciating the feat of K.L. Rahul scoring the century in the Sydney Cricket Ground, Mr. Kumble said he was glad Mr. Rahul got an opportunity to open the innings, which “is natural to him”. Of Mr. Rahul’s performance in the first test, Mr. Kumble said it was all of nerves. “He has never batted at that position. When you sit and wait, the mind will be constantly thinking.” It was fairly an over-bearing task to come to out and bat at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. “I am glad he has done well.” There will be more representation from Karnataka in the Indian team as the state has been doing well as a team in the domestic tournaments.

Dakshina Kannada cricket association president Mahabala Maarla welcomed Anil Kumble with a floral bouquet.

Vijay Bharadwaj, former India cricketer, R Ananth, former Karnataka state cricketer, Sridharan Sriram, left-handed all-rounder, K Jeshwanth, former left arm spinner and left handed batsman and others were present on the occasion.