WC 2015: ‘Indian cricketers are like Bollywood superstars’

Bengaluru: Renowned British author and a former MP Jeffrey Archer said the current Indian cricket team puzzles him and compared the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side with Bollywood superstars, who according to him are famous for their inconsistencies in giving hit films.

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"Frankly speaking, I am puzzled by the current Indian team. I think (Virat) Kohli is among the best batsman I have ever seen in my life, but I think that they are becoming too much like Bollywood superstars who are inconsistent in giving hit films. I mean for the last six months they have been playing rubbish. They come to the World Championship and they start playing properly," he said in an interaction with the audience on the occasion of the launch of his book -- 'Mightier Than the Sword'.

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Archer's comments came after India witnessed a horrendous tour of Australia preceding the World Cup but returned to form when it mattered most. Having beaten strong teams like Pakistan and South Africa in the ongoing World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, India are all but assured of a place in the quarterfinals.

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And Archer said India's inconsistency is disappointing, but feels the team has the potential to deliver. "So, they are a kind of disappointing. But they can deliver even though they are not consistent and that is the problem," he said.

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Archer, meanwhile, took a dig at T20 cricket, calling it a rubbish format. "I think 20-20 is rubbish. I think VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid, batting all day against the Australians and beating them on the following day - that is cricket, not this 20-20 rubbish," he said.

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Archer has a great fan following in India and has been a frequent visitor. He had visited India last year and in 2013 to promote the fourth and fifth volumes of the "The Clifton Chronicles".