KL Rahul and Marcus Trescothick pre-match press conference (Hindi & English), India vs England, ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023

India player KL Rahul and England Assistant Coach Marcus Trescothick pre-match press conference (Hindi & English), India vs England, ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023. 

India player KL Rahul 

England Assistant Coach Marcus Trescothick 

India player KL Rahul pre-match press conference (Hindi & English) transcript

[Reporter:] England being a demoralized side, when you take on such a side, what is the factors to be cagey about?

 

[K L Rahul:] Firstly, we don't think of any opposition that way. Any team on the given day can be dangerous and I am sure you have covered enough cricket matches to know that there is no team that starts off as favourite in a game of cricket or in any sport. So, it's important that we keep doing what we've been doing and focus on our strengths.

 

[Reporter:] Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have made runs in the last few years. What is the advantage of this? Or do you think that these are senior players – they have made runs. Besides you no one in the middle order has made runs - is it a concern? Or do you think that matches are still left and this can be addressed?

 

[K L Rahul:] No, I don't think it is a concern. It is a very good thing when your senior players are making runs and are in form. That is what you expect from players like Rohit and Virat.

Yes, whoever has got the chance, whoever has got the opportunity, they have contributed. I know that big scores have not been scored, hundreds have not been scored apart from Virat and Rohit. But that is the challenge for the other guys. Shubman has scored 50, Shreyas has scored 50, I have been batting [well]. When Jadeja got the chance in the last match, he also finished the match. So, every player has a different role. They are playing their role and responsibility well. Team is winning so we we're not really worried but whenever anyone gets a chance, I'm sure they'll put their hands up.

 

[Reporter:] In Colombo you were informed 5 minutes before that you have to play a match – from there you started and have made a great comeback, after your injury. Tell us how you stop the outside noise, People say a lot about you. Tell us about this comeback.

 

[K L Rahul:] I have put a lot of effort in this. I tried to address it. Outside noise for a long time, I thought it won't affect me, but in the last year or so it started affecting me. And then I realized that I will have to work on it. And when I got time, outside of the game, I tried to work on that side - mentally you got to get a lot more stronger, a lot more thick-skinned. So yeah, so that really helped me being away from the game.

 

[Reporter:] But how, like Rohit said he is not on social media.

 

[K L Rahul:] Same, that and then there are specialists, batting specialists, bowling specialists, there are specialist mental coaches that you can really use and work on if you feel that it will help. So, I tried a bit of everything.

 

[Reporter:] Such a big tournament, so much pressure, but when it comes to the fielding medal, the presentation, it looks fun from outside, looks like a small thing, but to keep the atmosphere good, it becomes a very big thing?

 

[K L Rahul:] I think that is just one thing that you are seeing or the fans outside are seeing, they are getting to see a version of cricketers that maybe they have not seen before but one thing is that since I have returned to the team from Asia Cup, the environment has been such that everyone is enjoying cricket. Everyone is in a very happy state of mind. We know that whenever we cross the boundary line, there will be pressure. But the best thing we can do is outside of the field still try and enjoy ourselves and try to be as calm as possible. The atmosphere we're trying to create that and I think everyone must have realized after playing cricket that is the biggest thing that you need to keep outside - that is the outside noise or pressure. In World Cup or any big tournament or big matches the team that handles pressure better is the team that will more often than not win the game.

So individually we are all trying from our side that how we can be in that zone and yes, the fielding medal videos that you are watching, it is fun for us also, whatever happens, there is a lot of fun, there is a lot of banter. So, it is a good way to connect as a group as well.

 

[Reporter:] During IPL you were injured in this ground. And you must have a desire to do something great in Lucknow so that you can rise from that injury. Have you thought about that?

 

[K L Rahul:] I am trying to forget; you are reminding me again and again.

 

[Reporter:] But the IPL was incomplete there, you were on 4th position. So, you must have to do something.

 

[K L Rahul:] Yes, I am a little sad about that, but the injury that I had, it kept me out of the game for 4-5 months. That was a tough time. Whoever has an injury, if you ask anyone - they undergo surgery and to come back, it takes a lot of hard work, a lot of patience and you have to go through that which is not very easy.

In cricket, whatever ups and downs happen, sometimes you score 100, sometimes you don't, that success or failure you can handle but this painful time that is there, doing physio and coming back into cricket. That was tough.

 

I can't say that it is not in my mind. Yesterday when I came to the ground, last memory of this ground is that - falling down and injuring myself. Hopefully I can put that aside and I can make some better and happier memories to forget all of that.

 

[Reporter:] You have won all five games chasing, so is there any thought at all of that situation might arise where you might have to bat first in a knockout game? Is that something that you guys have spoken about at all?

 

[K L Rahul:] A little bit. I mean, not really gone too much into it. I know few, I think one game we did lose a toss and ended up bowling first as well. So, toss is not something that the captain or the team can control. So whatever opportunities we've gotten we've done well but again it will be a great it will be a good opportunity if we get to bat first before the next stage and in the next four games if we can get to bat first it'll be a good challenge for us to just see how to pace the innings and it's been some time since we've batted first, so it will be useful for the team.

 

[Reporter:] I want to ask you about your injury, about coming back from injury and having to take a catches. Among the two, you were really good at catching. Could you just talk about the work that you got into enhancing your game, since you got to come back from the injury?

 

[K L Rahul:] During the process of getting fitter as well, I did focus a lot on wicket keeping along with my batting. The medical team at the NCA felt like - with the kind of injury I had, the difficult part would be wicket keeping more than the batting. The things that I've worked much more harder on are my is my fitness and my wicket keeping. Then came batting so it was in that order. So, I did work a lot on my wicket-keeping there and yeah, even when I've come back here, I've spent a lot of time wicket-keeping. I feel like that requires a bit more time and effort from my side.

Yeah, so it's as simple as any other skill. The more you do, the harder you work on it, you have the best chance to do well and I am taking wicket-keeping seriously because in India in these conditions it will be important to have your technique right, to have your glove work right and so I am trying to tick all of those boxes so I can do my best as a wicket-keeper as well.

 

[Reporter:] Undefeated in the tournament, obviously there is a nice environment in the dressing room, that's the simplistic answer. What's the one thing different about your side, especially in a tournament which is always a high-pressure tournament in India, it can't get more intense than this. There's something different about your side and India this time. What would you put that down to? Anything that hasn't been said in the dressing room together that you can put it down to?

 

[K L Rahul:] I think it's just, this is my personal observation and what I think if I have to put myself outside, as an outsider if I view the Indian team.

 

I think it's just how we've been really aggressive. And also, our preparations have been really, really good, and very particular, very spot on from the time at least I've come back into the team since the Asia Cup.

I think the players have gotten enough chances and enough time in their particular role. So, yeah, that again, I think goes down to preparation. We've prepared really well. So that's where the confidence is coming from.

 

[Reporter:] [inaudible]

 

[K L Rahul:] Every place has a different wicket. So, it varies. If you get a batting pitch, you have to put the runs on the board. To give the bowlers a chance, you have to put that extra runs on the board. So yeah, I can't comment much on this.

 

[Reporter:] What about pitch?

 

[K L Rahul:] Pitch will be good. I mean, there are wickets of 250-260, there are wickets of 370. It really depends on where you are playing. So that is the beauty of playing in different places.

 

[Reporter:] [inaudible]

 

[K L Rahul:] In our side. Yes, Hardik has also been a very important member of the team and he has been there and he does a very important role for the team. So not having him is also a bit of a miss for the team. But it's unfortunate what happened. And yeah, we also at some point have to look at the now and the present is that he is not available for this game.

Surya will probably get his chance and we know what Surya can do. So, our confidence is in Surya till Hardik comes back.

 

[Reporter:] England as an opposition, the defending champions, they seem to be really unravelling pretty fast. What is the talk in the dressing room about them?

 

[K L Rahul:] Honestly ma'am, we have not spoken too much about the opposition so far in all these games. The talk mostly has been on focusing about our strengths. Yes, we do a little bit of homework about the opposition and like you said England is the defending champion. Yes, they may not have had a few results going their way but it doesn't change the fact that they are still a very dangerous team and we will not go by what has happened with them in the last few games. We will focus on tomorrow and try to compete and beat them again.

England Assistant Coach Marcus Trescothick pre-match press conference transcript

[Reporter:] Can you tell us how tough it's been watching? Obviously, you've not been able to affect things out there and just watching from the sides, it must have been pretty hard viewing.

 

[Marcus Trescothick:] Of course, I think sitting on the sidelines, seeing the performances haven't been quite right. We've just not been matching up to the levels we expect. It's disappointing, of course it is. We're all feeling it. We're all feeling the heat and stuff. But what can you do? We prepared the same, we've done things very similar to what you'd expect. Every practice we go through we're coming out the other side thinking we're in a good place and feeling quite right. It's just not quite worked then when we go into the games and got that right.

So, it's always challenging for everybody, not just the coaches watching.

 

[Reporter:] And the batting in particular, I think they've lost like 47 wickets out of 49, possibly, you're just scrambling for somebody to get a big one to build around, aren't you?

 

[Marcus Trescothick:] Yeah, of course. And I think, we've only had one really big score, haven't we? Dawid [Malan] got 100 against Bangladesh. Yeah. So, we could do with a few more. Obviously, we need to -  that's the level we expect it to be and having the bigger scores because in 50 over competitions there's room for 150’s, 180’s, 200’s as we've seen so we need a few bigger performances to put in the bigger scores for us over the long 50 overs.

 

[Reporter:] Can you tell us what the thinking is about team selection this week? Is it more changes, bring some of the younger guys in and let them have their head?

 

[Marcus Trescothick:] Well, I can't tell you the team of course, and I don't really know what their principle of what they're trying to do, So I can't give you a lot to that answer, I'm afraid.

 

[Reporter:] Well, I mean, one guy then in particular will be Harry Brook, who stepped out last time. But you could tell us a bit. He clearly is someone who's been earmarked probably across all three formats as a pretty big guy with a big future. He probably has a role to play in the next few weeks?

 

[Marcus Trescothick:] Maybe. I think there's opportunity or there's scope for everyone to play as we know and Brookie has been one that has performed in a consistent level for from what we've seen in the last 18 months I suppose now in his Test cricket in particular. Hasn't played a massive amount of 50 over cricket but if he got his opportunity, he's had a couple of okay scores so far but just again looking for that big one that will make the difference.

 

[Reporter:] India, you know it's not getting any easier, this tournament for you, they performed extremely consistently, sitting on top there, is there anything you can take from the fact that it's almost a free hit given that even Matthew said he expects them to be sort of wild favourites for the game?

 

[Marcus Trescothick:] I think playing against India in a World Cup in their own country is that's a special part of the game you know you get these opportunities that come around -  you know there'll be a big crowd, there'll be a wonderful occasion. We're looking forward to that chance. I think there's nothing more that we can offer apart from going out and playing that performance. And then hopefully you come out on top at the end of it.

It's exciting. I think having been where we've been and coming now into this game, the buzz of what it will be, you know, building up for the game and then into the game tomorrow will be good. So, really excited for it.

 

[Reporter:] Just on that India game and the kind of psychology of it - the fact that it is almost a free hit, do you think that will help to free up the players, especially the batsmen tomorrow?

 

[Marcus Trescothick:] I don't know. I don't know if you can free hits can really make a difference. I think I thought we were going into the last game everything in order to what we needed to do. And then we didn't show the standards of performance that what we need. So, it's really challenging because you want to come into World Cups, you want to be playing for every game, you want something to really be meaningful when you go out and perform. And you look at the World Cup rugby, it must be challenging playing a third and fourth place playoff. But we've got an opportunity against a big team in their own country where the atmosphere is going to be electric. So, if you're not excited and up for the game like that, then great. You know, this is an opportunity to do so.

 

[Reporter:] Can I just ask you to talk a bit about the sort of your read on the tempo of England's batting over the last three weeks because you know there's been talk about being not attacking enough you've also lost a lot of wickets? What's your read on it? People sort of seem to be not quite getting set and maybe taking wrong options wrong times. What's your analysis of it?

 

[Marcus Trescothick:] Well, I think more than first and foremost is you know we have an attitude to how we've gone about batting in the last however many years since our white ball cricket has changed and evolved. And it's always trying to be positive. We're always looking to put pressure back on oppositions, bowlers, as much as we can while reading the situation and be smart in those situations. And we've done it occasionally. We've done it now and again. We just haven't done it consistently with enough people really reading the situation, taking the right options, and then putting it all together to get that score. So, it's pretty obvious when you haven't got players who haven't got the runs, they haven't got the form, they haven't got the backup of what they need to be doing. You know, you can always question what we're trying to achieve. But the process and the conversations have always been the same and they won't change whether we're playing the first or the last game. You're just trying to read the situation and get it right on the day.

 

[Reporter:] Do you feel like it's a rhythm thing for a lot of batters, like sort of struggling to get off strike early and innings and just never really being set?

 

[Marcus Trescothick:] I think confidence, rhythm, whatever you want to call it. I think, you know, the form of the team hasn't been as good as what we normally have. Normally there's always one, maybe two people in that team who are going to get a hundred plus or a big score that's going to make a big difference. And consistently within the course of this competition everybody has been you know out of form or not scoring the runs that you need to do so we understand that it comes and goes and we know what it is it's trying to make sure we can get it right to find the feeling of what it is. If we get that right in the next four games it will be exciting because they'll be hungry for runs and when we do it will be you know it'll be exciting for the team we're playing against.

 

[Reporter:] I just want to know there is this huge sense outside that that England has lost interest in the 50-over format, now that they've been the champions, finally. What is your take on it?

 

[Marcus Trescothick:] Forgive me if I don't want to be blunt here, but we haven't lost faith in what it is. I can't really say too much more. We love playing any form of cricket, any form of the game that we play. And we were desperate to come here and try and win back-to-back 50 over competitions. So, we're still very much focused on all formats of the game.

 

[Reporter:] Whether it is batting or bowling, adapting to slow-ish kind of wickets, is that the biggest challenge?

 

[Marcus Trescothick:] That's always a challenge for us. I think in every team, every game that we want to play we want to play on the best wicket possible if it's not and it turns then we’re that and we've been good enough and we've been very smart at that in the last few years so that's that might be the challenge ahead I haven't looked at the pitch out there so it might be it might turn it might be slow but it'd be good preparation for some of the guys from back in January for the Test matches probably.

 

[Reporter:] [Inaudible]

 

[Marcus Trescothick:] Well, it's again it's no different isn't it we've got some good spinners of course but if the seamers need to bowl, they need to adapt and need to read the conditions of what it is. So, whether we're playing on good pitches or slow pitches, you know, the team is good enough and equipped enough to be able to adapt on that.

 

[Reporter:] A lot of chat about free hits. Is there a sense in the team that you still have a little chance of making the semis and this India win, if it happens, can really spur you on?

 

[Marcus Trescothick:] I don't think we're necessarily thinking about the competition as such. I think we're more focused on getting our performance right, getting the better levels of performance than what we've shown in the last few weeks. So, that sits over there and it will just look after itself. If it happens, it happens. We know it will be very challenging. Mathematically, it's still possible. But, it's very tough.

 

[Reporter:] As you said, you haven't lost your interest in 50-over cricket, but as you said earlier in this press conference, England didn't play too much 50-over cricket. You won last year T20 World Cup, so why didn't you plan for 50 over cricket? It means you have failed to make a proper planning for this World Cup. And the second question is, it's been five matches so far for England. You guys could not settle down your playing eleven. You have changed so many players in and out.

 

[Marcus Trescothick:] Okay, so let's come back to the second one, the first question. I think nowadays the cricket structure is so busy, right? It's really busy. You've got to plan in Test matches, T20s, 50s and what it is. And we're always trying to get the balance right sometimes we do sometimes we don't some teams play more 50 overs than others and it just doesn't always match up so we're still trying to get it right and we're still very focused on playing 50 over World Cups and 50 over cricket it's just when it fits into the schedule and as we know the cricket schedule is very busy.

I think when you're in different conditions and different places to play different games, you're always trying to find an edge. You're trying to find a difference where you think, is this a pitch that we need three seamers or is this a pitch where we need three spinners and match it up that way? The batting has been pretty consistent, obviously Ben Stokes coming back in and Harry Brook changing. So, I think you've got to adapt. I don't think you can go through any World Cup or any big competition with the same 11 players.

 

[Reporter:] Marcus, there are contrasting views over the umpire's call over DRS. What is your take? Because there is a school of thought that thinks if the ball is hitting the stumps, it has to be given out. And if it is not, it's not out. As simple as that. Whether it is hitting just minutely, that's something different. So, what is your take on umpires call?

 

[Marcus Trescothick:] I don't think we need to change anything at the moment. It's been working pretty smooth as you'd expect it to be. I think everyone knows the rules, everyone has the same understanding going into the game. So, you know there's nothing to change at the moment. There's not been any major obvious errors or anything that we need to worry about. So, carry on as we have been.

 

[Reporter:] There are a lot of players in this England team who had experience of Indian conditions through the IPL and all that. Unlike say past teams who probably struggled to adapt, has adaptability still been a big challenge for the team despite this experience and the second question is there any view on maybe Jos opening the innings in the remaining games given that he's had experience of that in India and done well?

 

[Marcus Trescothick:] Firstly, Jos not to my knowledge no I can't I can't believe that's going to happen.

To the first question, I think we've gained massive amounts of more experience in India because of the guys playing the volume of cricket they have done. I think you're always learning; you're always playing in different situations. It's just about getting the performance right on the day and that's what we've not done we've not been good enough on the performance of the day and not been consistent enough with that.

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