Team India’s tour to South Africa is going to start in less than a month’s time. There are a plethora of things to focus on for the No.1 Test team to see if they can replicate their home success in foreign conditions.
South Africa and Australia are the two overseas nations where Team India is yet to win a Test series. Under the leadership of Virat Kohli, thing young and promising squad seems to have all the ingredients to break that record in 2018. The team’s head coach Ravi Shastri spoke with TOI about India’s preparation and a year involving some exciting challenges abroad. Here are some excerpts of that interview:
Talking about the balance and shape of the team, the head coach said, “They’re hungry to prove themselves at home and away, these boys understand the importance of the year 2018. Frankly, we’re not too hooked on to this “home and away” thing where a lot of chatter goes on about conditions that aren’t too familiar. In this day and age, wherever you go, it’s home. You just got to walk in there and perform. It’s often been argued that India are poor travelers. We want to be the team that helped change this perception and this is the year to do it.”
When asked about the exclusion of Kuldeep Yadav, Shastri said, “Kuldeep’s time will come. The kind of tracks that will be made available to us in South Africa won’t come in too handy for a wrist spinner, which is what Kuldeep is. That aside, this is going to be a long journey and there are multiple things to focus on, including the next World Cup (2019). Right now, Ashwin is fresh after two busy seasons post the 2015 World Cup. That aside, both Ashwin and Jadeja can bat. Putting runs on the board will be as important as picking wickets.”
Speaking about the inclusion of Jasprit Bumrah in the Test squad, Shastri said, “Well, he has just worked his way to the top so well. Bumrah adds a lot of value to this attack. We have to earn those 20 wickets if we have to make an impact in a Test match and we need all the arsenal possible because it’s going to be quite a testing tour. It’s about being able to have a combination that can be rotated and we have neat options.”
Despite his lean phase, Ajinkya Rahane remains vice-captain, talking about him, the head coach said, “Ajinkya has had a poor run but it’s a matter of time before he regains his touch. Players also rise to an occasion and Ajinkya has proved himself in tougher times. For instance, look at Virat’s last two tours of Australia. On the first trip he struggled, and the next time he was there, he batted like a champion. Their minds are constantly in tune with these challenges, and with age, you don’t just get better at the game but you also begin to think bigger, become mentally stronger.”
When asked about eth thought process behind resting, Hardik Pandya, Shastri said, “He’d been playing continuously across formats and there’s only that much a human body can take. He’s a good allrounder and we needed him to stay fresh for the tour of South Africa. So it was a collective decision where we spoke about the importance of a break and I conveyed it to the BCCI. At the end of the day, the player has to feel secure and understand that certain things need to be done keeping the bigger picture in mind.”
Talking about the cramped scheduling, Shastri said, “Look at England. They reached Australia for the Ashes a month in advance. Now that’s a little too early but at the same time, a week is a little less. Ideally, we’d have preferred a good 10 to 12 days in South Africa before the start of the Tests. But that’s fine. Going forward, the BCCI has assured us that these things will be looked at differently.”0
Shastri concluding by sharing happiness about the new FTP scheduled by BCCI, he said, “The BCCI has done an excellent job with the new Future Tours Program (FTP). The Board has ensured that the team will no longer go on such long tours that involve two or three months at a go. England has always preferred to tour India for Tests, go back, and return for the shorter formats. This is how India’s going to operate moving forward. This kind of schedule will also help teams prepare better and stay focused on the format they’re heading to play.”
