Team India's focus on shifting gears from Test to T20: Anil Kumble

Florida, Aug 26: As Team India is going to play their maiden international T20 match on American soil, Head Coach Anil Kumble admitted that the side's focus would be on switching their mindset to T20 mode from Test format.

Team India wins Test series" title="Series schedule, TV info; Team India wins Test series" />Series schedule, TV info; Team India wins Test series

"It is a mindset change and not easy to switch your focus from playing a Test series and coming into a T20 mode. (Indian cricketers play basketball)

"It is something we need to change in our mind. Probably both bowlers and batsmen need to make adjustments. It is not easy, but all of us are professionals and they have played enough T20 cricket to adjust. It is something to focus on. It is more in the mind," the former India skipper told media persons on Thursday (August 25).

India will play 2 T20Is against West Indies at Central Broward Regional Park (Lauderhill, Florida), the only purpose-built cricket stadium in the US. It is the only ICC certified ODI standard stadium facility in the US and has hosted 6 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) matches last month.

(Preview: 1st T20I: India Vs West Indies)

Admitting that the Caribbean side would be tough to beat, Kumble observed that most of West Indies' star players were part of CPL and hence, it would not be difficult for them to switch from Tests to T20.

"West Indies are always a tough side and they are the World T20 champions. Also, some of the West Indian players may not have to make the switch from Tests to T20s because they are coming straight from the CPL. They are quality cricketers and they have shown how good they are. We had a tough match against them in the semi-final of the World T20 as well. So, we are going to encounter a quality side and we are aware of that. It is going to be a challenge," Kumble pointed out.

(Pakistani fans mock Indian team)

Kumble, however, is still optimistic about a good performance in what will be his first assignment with Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

"This is the first time that I'll be working with MS, obviously we have played together over a long period of time and we had a chat yesterday and today as well," Kumble said.

(Ashwin breaks Tendulkar's record)

"I'm really looking forward to working with him and the new set of boys like (Jasprit) Bumrah who's joined as well. I've worked with him in the IPL so it's nice to be a part of the India dressing room again," he added.

OneIndia News