By: Tarish Bhatt
Team India are getting ready for a tough South Africa challenge, featuring three T20s, five one-dayers and four Test matches. It is not going to be an easy series for either teams, seeing India’s home advantage and South Africa’s prowess.
The kind of brand of cricket South Africa brings to the table made the Indian cricket board opting for a preparatory champ ahead of the two-month long tour, something which is a rarity nowadays for Team India.
Team India director, Ravi Shastri is also having the same sentiment ahead of the South Africa series. Shastri said India need to maintain consistent pressure over the Proteas to challenge them in the upcoming series.
“South Africa are the No. 1 team in the world,” Ravi Shastri said. “We have to play consistent cricket for long periods of time to put them under pressure. That will be the endeavour.”
“Our style of play will not change. If you reflect on our performances in Australia and Sri Lanka, you will see that consistency was the difference between defeat and victory. Sustained brilliance will be the key against the Proteas.”
Ravi Shastri pointed out the importance of patience and discipline, something which Team India has lacked in the recent times, against a team like South Africa.
The comment of Shastri came from India’s stunning loss against Sri Lanka in the 1st Test, from a winning position, and also failing to put resistance against Australia before the World Cup.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I am talking about,” Ravi Shastri said. “And that – not letting the opposition off the hook after having them under pressure – demands a lot of patience.”
“We weren’t patient enough both in Australia and during the first Test in Sri Lanka. Once the patience and discipline came, in the next two Tests, we saw the results.”
