Patil queries Indian selection

Patil queries Indian selection

Kenyan coach Sandeep Patil believes India have a "defensive mind-set" which his team can exploit in Thursday's World Cup semi-final.

Four bowlers are not enough to do the job - you need five strike forces to nail the opposition

Sandeep Patil

The Africans have exceeded even their own expectations by reaching the last four, and are eager to continue their run all the way to the final.

Patil believes India's policy of playing seven batsmen and only four specialist bowlers could backfire.

"I do not understand this seven batsmen logic.

"If Sachin (Tendulkar) and Sehwag, Sourav (Ganguly) and Kaif, Dravid and Yuvraj are not going to win you the World Cup, Dinesh Mongia is certainly not the one to do it," he commented.

Kenya plan to focus on their own strengths and hope the importance of the occasion will affect the Indian team, concentrating on a tight off stump line with the ball and backing the bowlers up in the field.

"We must be one of the best fielding units in this World Cup. Certainly, we are streets ahead of India in the fielding department," Patil told the Press Trust of India.

India beat Kenya by six wickets in the Super Six round of the competition, chasing down a target of 226 with more than two overs in hand.

Looking back: India beat Kenya

Patil acknowledges that his side must make early inroads into India's top order to have a chance of victory.

"Our biggest concern will, of course, concern Sachin Tendulkar. If we get him, the rest of the batting will lose its driving force.

"I think Tendulkar and Sehwag at the start of the innings are key.

"If we can get the two out, we would reduce India's batting potency a great deal."

Should Kenya lose, it will Patil's last game in charge before taking up a new role with the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

"I have an offer from Bangladesh, but I have decided I would only be willing to help out cricket in my native country.

"I will be willing to do any job which (the) BCCI asks me to do. It could be the role of a senior coach, or one who is minding an under-seven team," he added.