Ravi Shastri believes India are a more experienced ODI side than South Africa
India Team Director Ravi Shastri believes that the losses against South Africa in the T20Is will help Team India in the rest of the games in the series. Speaking to the media, according to a report on Cricbuzz, Shastri believed that in the ODI format India was a much more experienced side than South Africa.
Shastri was speaking ahead of the ODI series that is scheduled to start on Sunday, October 5. He was speaking to the press for the first time after the T20 series was completed yesterday when the game at Eden Gardens ended up being washed out. South Africa convincingly won the series 2-0. Shastri was asked if India found any weaknesses in the SA team.
“Obviously, we have had a good look. We know what to expect from South Africa. But, in ODIs, we understand our game as well. We are a far more experienced side in the one-day format. And I see a really good contest between the two sides,” Shastri said.
The team director believed that the ground-staff at Kolkata did a great job of trying to make the third T20 happen. Many doubts arose about whether Kolkata would be able to host the World T20 Final in February-March 2016. Shastri was quick to observe that in the month of February the water would go right through and not get logged like it did on Thursday.
Shastri felt that the team combination for the World Cup is an ongoing procedure. He said that, in the ensuing months, the team will try different combinations and get it right before the commencement of the tournament.
“It's a work in progress. There is still a long way to go. It's very good that a team like South Africa has come to India. They are one of the strongest team in the world, across formats,” Shastri explained.
“And, I think, by the time they leave, we will be a much better team. No matter what happens, we will be a much stronger side two months down the line, thanks to exposure and the tough competition the boys get.”
Players like Shreyas Iyer and Mayank Agarwal are waiting for an opportunity to showcase their talents on the big stage. Shastri mentioned that a lot of cricket is yet to be played and that based on the form the players will be chosen and not based on the age. This probably is a hint that Yuvraj Singh could get a call-up if he is able to find consistency in his form before the T20 tournament.
India take on South Africa at Kanpur for the first of five ODIs on Sunday. With Dhoni set to bat up the order, it will be interesting to see who will shoulder the responsibility of becoming the "finisher” for Team India.