Ravi Shastri blames ‘lack of practice’ for India’s defeat in South Africa

Indian is currently trailing behind by 2-0 in the series and the third Test is scheduled to be played on January 24 in Johannesburg

By: Score Keepers |
January 23, 2018 11:05 am

After getting outplayed by the South Africans in the Test series by 2-0, Team India’s head coach Ravi Shastri opened up in a press conference and revealed the reason for their poor performance. While addressing the media in Johannesburg, Shastri stated that if the Indian cricket team would have got a few more days for practice in South African conditions, they would have made a difference in the series.

A busy schedule was always the matter of concern for the Indian players ahead of the South African tour which was even pointed out by skipper Virat Kohli during the bilateral series against Sri Lanka. And now, the Indian head coach has quoted the same issue and said,

“Conditions back home we are familiar with. We should not be in a position where we have to fight back, that is the bottom line as far as I am concerned. We fought back we did well. Here conditions are different. Another 10 days of practice here would have made a difference”.

“Unfortunately, the schedule was such like you had matches. But I am sure henceforth in the future when the itinaries are made that will be taken into account,” Shahstri added.

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Shastri went on to praise the efforts of the Indian bowlers and stated,

“No one expected our bowlers to fire the way they did and take 20 wickets so I would rather harp on that because for me that’s the biggest positive that has come out of this tour. We did (play like the no.1 team). We had our moments in both Tests and we looked like the no.1 team when we bowled out South Africa for 130-odd. Or, when we closed the gap thanks to Virat’s brilliant innings (at Centurion), we looked like the no.1 team in overseas conditions.”

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Shastri is hopeful that ahead of the next overseas tours, the schedule would be planned in such a way that when the team reaches the other nation, the players have enough time in hand to could get familiar with the conditions. He said,

“Unfortunately, the schedule (this time) was such that you had matches (against Sri Lanka). But I am sure henceforth in the future when itineraries are made that will be taken into account. There is absolutely no doubt about that. You get there a couple of weeks earlier and prepare.”

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Indian is currently trailing behind by 2-0 in the series and the third Test is scheduled to be played on January 24 in Johannesburg.