Ravi Shastri: “In hindsight, I would say another 10 days of practice here would have made a difference”
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
India head coach Ravi Shastri has admitted that his side should have come to South Africa 10 days earlier in order to adequately prepare for the three-Test series.
India have already lost the first two Tests in Cape Town and Centurion, and will now be looking to secure a consolation win in the third Test in Johannesburg, which begins on January 24.
Despite conceding that India could have used the extra time to prepare, Shastri insisted that it doesn’t serve as an excuse for his side’s disappointing performance thus far.
However, Shastri confirmed that going forward, India will look to arrive two weeks early for future tours.
“In hindsight I would say another 10 days of practice here would have made a difference,” he was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. “But that’s no excuse. The pitch we play on, it’s the same for both sides, and I would rather focus on the 20 wickets we have taken. That has given us a chance in both Test matches to win games. If our top order can fire, it will be a good Test match.”
In regards to India’s decision to drop opener Shikhar Dhawan and pace bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the second Test, Shastri said: “Overseas, you go on current form and you go on conditions and you see which player can adapt to certain conditions quicker than the other.
“What are the overhead conditions for which bowler to play as opposed to what kind of track you will get, where you need a bowler with bounce or you need a bowler with swing. So that’s where the chopping and changing starts.”
Meanwhile, Shastri added that even though South Africa have already won the series, India will be looking to avoid a whitewash in Johannesburg.
“We have had chances in both Test matches but we didn’t make the most of it,” Shastri said. “So when you believe you have a chance to win, then you look forward to a Test match. When you don’t believe you can win, you don’t look forward to a Test match, as simple as that.”