CRICKET / Team director says India has an honest bunch which takes knocks on the chin, enjoys success and faces failure with dignity
Cheteshwar Pujara is a “good headache.” But, there is no ready pill to treat this lovable worry.
Call it an embarrassment of riches in the batting unit or a tactical necessity. As far as Ravi Shastri is concerned, it is not an issue that will cause unrest in the dressing room. If a century can’t cement your place in the side, then Shastri needs to explain this incongruity. True to his character, India’s team director is game too.
“We do what is best for the balance of the side. In Sri Lanka we had an injury issue and Cheteshwar was offered the chance to open the innings. He grabbed it and did a fabulous job.
“It is nice if there is a fight for a position. It augurs well for Indian cricket when there is healthy competition where even a century-maker needs to earn a slot,” Shastri told The Hindu .
The veteran raved about his team. “This is a very honest bunch and can take a knock on the chin. You need guts to do that. The boys enjoy the success and also face failures with dignity.
“There is no blame game and that is the true strength of the team. There is no individual. It is a team. India is performing. No Indian team played in Australia like the last one. We lost 2-0 but look at the quality of cricket that was produced.
“Then we won in Sri Lanka, the first team to do so in 23 years. Many great players travelled there but did not win a series. The average age of this side is 25 and it is a progressive sign.”
Ready for South Africa
The South Africans are here, raring to go, ready to pulverise the home team. Is India prepared? Shastri asserts, “Yes, we are. No question about that. It is going to be a really competitive series, one of the biggest series in India in the past 7-8 years.
“South Africa has remained unbeaten in the last seven years or so and we need to respect them for this fact. But, the Indian team has also grown in stature in the last one year and now is the best time to prove that.”
How does he view the losses in the T20 and the ODI series?
Both the series were close but we play good Test match cricket. It is the perfect time to take Indian cricket forward by dominating this series (against South Africa). We have a young side with loads of talent. Expect the team to put its best foot forward.”
Shastri insists, “We have a world-class team. Every player is trained to deal with difficult situations. The signs of change are there. “If you see, the team has the right balance, there is a healthy trend to play positive and aggressive cricket. The only concern, if I may say so, is the No. 7 slot.
“We need a batsman who can bowl seam when playing overseas and a batsman who can bowl spin when competing at home. At any given time, I would love to have a five batsmen-five bowler combination and Stuart Binny presently gives us that option.
“He is not the fifth bowler as suggested by many. He is essentially the bowler who gives the main bowlers a break.”
Is there not lack of option in spin?
Shastri begs to differ. “I don’t think so. We have R. Ashwin at his peak. Amit (Mishra) has come close to fulfilling the expectations of a match-winner. (Ravindra) Jadeja is back, hungry and fresh.
There is (off-spinner) Jayant Yadav confirming his potential and he continues to impress with every outing. There are quite a few spinners around but it is the fast bowling department that causes worry.”
Has India not had a plethora of new ball bowlers?
Shastri agreed, “Yes, but we need to handle the fast bowlers well. I would encourage a fast bowler to bowl fast (Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron). But then they also need to show a bit of control. They can’t be spraying the ball around.
Pacers must be preserved
“We have to ensure these bowlers are not lost due to injury. That is why the NCA (National Cricket Academy) is important. The NCA can monitor the bowlers and prepare them to perform to the maximum capacity.
“We can’t over-bowl them and also not allow them to play too much of domestic cricket. We have to obviously preserve good talent from burn-outs.”
On ordering spin-friendly pitches for the series, Shastri countered, “We have not issued any slow pitches diktat. It would be wrong to say that. We have to use the conditions.
“We can train our youngsters to grow when touring but at home we have to exploit the favourable conditions. Every country does it. Why should we not?
Cannot be generous
“Our strength lies in spin and ideally we must have pitches that suit our style. If it is slow and turning, so be it. We don’t have to be generous by creating pitches that help the opposition.”
South Africa, Shastri emphasised, was a solid team. “Their records suggest that. It is the only team to travel exceptionally well and the only team to deliver so consistently. South Africa has an awesome record in bilateral cricket. “I personally feel they have tremendous depth in the team. They lack in the spin department but make up amply with their set of fast bowlers. There are some plus and minus and there would likely be a vacuum sometime in the future.”
Reflecting on his role, Shastri affirmed, “My job is to oversee the work of the coaching staff and see to it that the team stays ready for the battle.
“Obviously my experience comes in handy. I am like an elder brother and command their trust. They can knock on my door in the middle of the night and I will be at their service.
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