XtraTime Web Desk: After facing much criticism due to the Indian team’s poor performance in the first two Test against England, head coach Ravi Shastri today asked for more discipline and character from the batsmen when they will face the hosts in the third Test which is set to begin from Saturday at Trent Bridge.
As per Shastri it’s really tough conditions out there in the middle for the batsmen, but the batsmen need to fight back and play gritty cricket. The hosts are leading the five-match ODI series 2-0 after they won the second test at Lord’s in a convincing fashion by an innings and 159 runs.
“Conditions have been tough right through this series. But that’s where character and discipline come into play. The resolve to know where your off stump is, leave a lot of balls, be prepared to look ugly and dirty and show some grit,” said Shastri.
“I don’t think it’s fair to single out any one player,” he added, when asked about Ajinkya Rahane’s struggles on this tour.
“Batsmen from both teams have struggled. When the occasion demands, it’s a case of mental resolve? How you put mind over matter. Mental discipline will be the key as far as batsmen are concerned going forward in this Test match. Rahane is one of our pillars and he will remain so.”
There are a few good news for the Men in Blue ahead of the must win game. Skipper Virat Kohli who was suffering with back spasm is almost fit as he batted without any discomfort and also took slip catching. Jasprit Bumrah, R Ashwin and Hardik Pandya have already been declared fit for the game.
India will be looking to find the optimal combination for the game, and the coach admitted that they had made a mistake going with an extra spinner at Lord’s.
“Kohli is feeling much better. You saw him in the nets? He is moving much better and improving by the day.
“In hindsight, it (picking second spinner) was an error. We should have gone, seeing the conditions, with an extra seamer. It might have helped. Then again, you didn’t know how much it would rain, whether a match could go into the final day where just in case a second spinner is needed and the ball starts to turn, would we have needed him?
“But in hindsight the way things panned out, the amount it rained, the time we lost, a seamer could have been a better option,” said Shastri.
England are on the cusp of wrapping up the series with victory at Trent Bridge, and the only way India can avoid that is to register only their second win in six overseas Tests in 2018.
Shastri said that the team knows how to do it because they have been in this position before.
“Just believe in yourself,” he said, when asked what he has told the team post defeat at Lord’s.
“You have been in this position couple of times before and you have responded. There is no reason why. One thing for sure in this unit, there is no negative bone.
“Despite what happened in the last Test match, conditions favoured England but that is no excuse whatsoever. It can happen to any side. We are here without a negative bone and wanting to play to win, as simple as that.”