No other Indian team in last 15-20 years has had the same run as this one: Shastri
XtraTime Web Desk: India will face England at the Oval in the last test which is set to start from September 7. The Men in Blue have already lost the series 3-1 but if they manage to win the final test it will be a morale booster for the World No.1 Test side. Ahead of that the Indian cricket team coach Ravi Shastri blasted as his batsmen and said that the shot selection by most of the batsmen is the reason behind the series loss.
“I think due to poor shot selection we lost the matches. We blew away a very good position straight away after tea on day two (in Southampton). That’s an area where you can tighten, be aware of what the team needs, being aware of the match situation, that will be a big help. I think that was crucial more than anything else,” said Shastri while talking to the media at the Oval.
It’s always important to get a good start in a test match if a team is looking forward to win it. All the Indian openers failed miserably throughout the series. As per Shastri that’s another reason for India’s loss, but beside that he thinks that luck is another thing that is needed to win a game.
“You obviously need the top order to give you a start but if you look at both sides its not been easy for the top order, the bowling has been good, really good, and its been a challenge and it is how you overcome that challenge. It is again believing in yourself and believing in your ability, and hoping for some luck on the way as well,” added Shastri.
Shastri also feels that the current lot is travelling better than the teams of the last 15-20 years.
“As hard as our guys tried, England were one-up on us there. Nothing to take away (from them), the endeavour of this team is to travel well, compete and win. If you look at the last three years, we have won nine matches overseas and three series (against West Indies and twice in Sri Lanka).
“I can’t see any other Indian team in the last 15-20 years that has had the same run in such a short time, and you have had some great players playing in those series. So the promise is there, and it’s just about getting tougher mentally.”
Shastri said that Moeen Ali was the key difference between the two sides, and he bowled better than R Ashwin, hitting the rough patches more than the Indian off-spinner. While it looks increasingly likely that Ashwin will miss out on the fifth Test, the coach said that the spinner was fully fit when picked in the fourth Test and that Ali simply bowled better.
“Ashwin was fit. You have to give credit to Moeen Ali there on the last day. To be honest, he bowled magnificently. I think it’s straightforward (difference between them) – very simple, very obvious, it was there for everyone to see. Moeen hit those patches more than Ashwin, as simple as that,” said Shastri.
He also complimented Cheteshwar Pujara for his first innings’ hundred and said that while conditions have been tough for batsmen, they need to find a way to stay in the middle.
“You obviously need the top order to give you a start but if you look at both sides it’s not been easy for the top order. The bowling has been good, really good, and it’s been a challenge and it is how you overcome that challenge.
“In the prevailing situation, the kind of pitches we’re playing on, the amount of movement there is with the Dukes ball – it’s challenging for the batsmen. It’s not just us; even batsmen from the other side have struggled. When you are set, you need to capitalize.”
Talking about Pujara’s knock, he said: “Pujara’s was an absolutely khadoos (stubborn/strict) innings.”
When asked about Hardik Pandya’s ability to bat number six, and the need for flexibility in bowling attack, the coach replied, “When you’re young, you’ve got to be thrown into the deep end. You’ve got to persevere and see, if it works or it doesn’t work. If it doesn’t work, there’ll be another option.
“But you have to give that opportunity when you think there is that talent there. And stick with that. You always have to be flexible. You can’t be rigid in your thinking. You’ve got to be flexible, you’ve got to see the conditions, see what conditions will be like day after tomorrow. And then take the call (on playing four bowlers).”