Kenya national cricket team captain Dhiren Gondaria in action against Bahrain at Nairobi Gymkhana Club. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]
Kenya national cricket team captain Dhiren Gondaria says the Men’s T20 International and 50 Overs Bilateral Series between Kenya and Bahrain that concluded at the Nairobi Gymkhana on Wednesday was a golden opportunity to take the country back to world cricket.
The skipper narrated how it has been a grueling 18 months journey without the national team engaging in any matches of such caliber.
Against Bahrain, Gondaria fired 73 runs off 49 balls in the opening T20 International fixture before hitting 23 runs off 12 balls in the second game.
"It’s been a while since we had a quality international fixture. So, we appreciate this battle with Bahrain. We have learnt a lot. It has taught us areas to tighten ahead of forthcoming tournaments.
"We also used the opportunity to introduce three new inclusions in the national team to international contests,” Gondaria told Standard Sports.
"This series has not only helped us to be active ahead of the forthcoming Challenge League in Qatar, but it has also motivated us to dream big- of qualifying for the T20 World Cup to be hosted in New Zealand and Australia in 2028,” he said.
On areas of improvement from the series, Gondaria is of the opinion that the national team should perfect its batting department, an area that saw Kenya fall to Bahrain with 15 runs in the opening T20 fixture before the hosts got their groove back in the second game.