Vengsarkar all praise for MCA President XI’s five-star show in England

Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar (seated third from left) with the MCA President’s XI at Stoke Green Cricket Club in London

Former Mumbai and India captain Dilip Vengsarkar, who witnessed MCA President's XI team's matches in England as part of the entourage, lavished praise on the performance of the players and eagerness to learn from their experiences abroad.

The MCA President's XI have won all five of their matches - one two-day fixture and four one-day encounters - so far.

Mumbai Cricket Association's advisor Vengsarkar, who returned home on Sunday after attending the initial part of the tour in London, reckoned that this winning habit will help Mumbai in the upcoming domestic season.

"I told our players that winning is a habit and they have to form that habit very early on the tour, and at the beginning of the season. Such habits and tendencies help overcome tight situations, win you matches. Suved Parkar led in the first four games, scoring an unbeaten 160 during a successful chase in one of the games. Aayush Shete has scored 88 in one game, Musheer Khan led in the fifth game, scored an unbeaten 138 and bowled well too. Such performances give you mental strength and maturity. I told the boys that once the team starts winning, it helps the players bond better and forms a happy dressing room. And this confidence and strong mentality will help us in the upcoming domestic season," Vengsarkar told mid-day on Monday.

Vengsarkar, a veteran of 116 Tests, revealed the current temperature in England was a minimum of 35 degrees celsius, but wickets and grounds were good. "You get to know who is in form and the fitness level of the players, especially the fast bowlers. Except for three to four players, the rest of them went to England for the first time. Their approach was good. They were learning new things, new conditions. Everybody was keen to do well. It's a very good learning experience for our players and it's a good initiative by MCA. There are two-three players of the U-16 age group. It's a good exposure for our players as the opponents are second XI county teams and some county players also played in these games." said Vengsarkar, adding that former England left-arm spinner Monty Panesar spent a good amount of time with Mumbai spinners and shared his experience on how to adjust to the red-ball and white-ball format.