Follow UsIndia started the two-match Test series leg against South Africa on the worst possible foot, with an innings and 32-run loss at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. The clash completely exposed India’s batting early on in the first innings when the pitch was conducive to pacers, with the visiting batting unit succumbing under early pressure.
Only two batters stood the test of time in the entire Test of the Indian team - KL Rahul and Virat Kohli. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma revealed that the pitch in Cape Town might be similar to the one that was dished out in Centurion but insisted that the overhead conditions will largely determine the movement.
“Honestly, I don’t know about the conditions. The pitch looks pretty similar to the one in Centurion, maybe not so much grass, but there is enough grass covering for pacers. Overall conditions will matter, it is too hot here. When we played last time here, the guys were telling me that it was pretty similar (overhead conditions), we know how to play when it is overcast,” the Indian skipper Rohit said in the pre-match press conference.
Despite letting a 163-run lead in the Centurion Test, the Indian skipper maintained that it was a collective failure, stating that the team has to show application as a batting unit to survive the storm. Alongside that, the 36-year-old recalled how India have made numerous memorable comebacks in the recent past, including the famous win at Gabba, where they were chasing the game.
“Last game, we were 163 runs behind; our first innings score was decent. Our talk in the dressing room was that we should not let them get too ahead. But it didn’t work out. There is no excuse, even if you are behind, you always need to find a way to come back in the game. It is always challenging to bat here in South Africa, but you have to show application.
“Wherever we have toured, we have trailed in the game, but we made a good comeback later on. Even in Australia, at Gabba, we were quite behind, but we went on to win. This is an individual thing; the players have to find it themselves. We have had a good chat,” Rohit added.
Will India stick with Ravichandran Ashwin? Will Ravindra Jadeja make a comeback? Or will India slot Avesh Khan for the poor Prasidh Krishna? These are some of the burning questions ahead of the second Test, and the Indian skipper answered that nothing has been confirmed yet but, at the same time, clarified about no injuries in the dressing room.
“I have not thought too much about the bowling unit. We have had a brief chat. We know what we want from the bowlers in this game. We haven’t finalised our playing XI; everyone is available for selection, and there is no injury concern. We will sit down in the evening and choose the right combination,” Rohit insisted.
“We have a lack of experience in our bowling, so we got to show faith and trust in them but obviously, for us, I talked about Prasidh playing his first game, and we all get nervous. I will still keep that thought in mind; he has the ability to succeed at this level and in this format. It is all about showing faith and trust.”
Earlier in the day, Australian skipper Pat Cummins had his thoughts on the health of Test cricket, stating that the power is vested in the hands of the top sides and maintaining that the format isn’t in a rapid downfall as many claim. The Indian skipper was of a similar opinion and stated that the red-ball format is still the ‘ultimate challenge’.
“For me, Test cricket is the ultimate challenge, you would want to see the best players playing in the format. Test cricket is something we all have to protect and give importance to, it is not just a responsibility of two nations,” Rohit said.
“Everyone needs to pitch in to keep it nice and entertaining. We have seen results everywhere; it is competitive cricket, so it is everyone’s duty to help it stay nice and healthy. That’s why people would come out to watch Test cricket. It is everyone’s responsibility.”
The Indian skipper also shed light on the debate whether Shubman Gill should go back to opening or whether the No.3 slot suits his batting style, stating that it is Gill’s choice.
“To be honest, there is no difference between opening and No.3, it only takes one ball. Sometimes, when an opener gets injured in the first innings, the No.3 batter has to go out and open the batting. I don’t see much difference there; it is an individual thing,” Rohit said on Gill’s batting position.
“Gill is smart, and he understands his batting very well. Obviously, he prefers No.3; he’s batted in Ranji Trophy there a fair bit and only has opened in limited-overs mostly; it is his preference, and he feels that he can contribute more at No.3.”
India go into Newlands Test 0-1 down in the series, and have an opportunity to level the series 1-1.