Johannesburg [South Africa]: Indian cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri on Monday rued his team’s missed opportunities in the Test series against South Africa, but expressed confidence about them putting up a good show in the third and final match, beginning here on Wednesday.
Earlier, the Virat Kohli-led side slumped to a humiliating 135-run defeat at the hands of South Africa in the second Test at the Centurion to lose the three-match series 0-2 with a game to spare.
“They (India) have had chances in both test matches, but they didn’t make the most of it. So, when you believe you have a chance to win, then you look forward to a test match. When you don’t believe you can win, you don’t look forward to a test match, as simple as that,” Shastri said.
Shastri, however, believes his bowlers’ performance was the `biggest positive` of the South Africa tour so far.
“Our bowlers did a great job. I mean no one expected our bowlers to fire the way they did and take 20 wickets. So, I would rather harp on that, because for me that’s the biggest positive that has come out of this tour. We are here to live and learn from our mistakes, and like I said, that is the most positive,” he said.
Meanwhile, Shastri also sent out a message to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) following the Test series defeat to South Africa.
Shastri insisted that ten more days of preparation in South Africa could have made a difference to their results in the opening two Tests.
“First of all, overseas conditions. We are familiar with the conditions back home. We should not be in positions where you have to fight back. We fought back, we did well. Here conditions are different. In hindsight, I would say another 10 days of practice here, would have made a difference. But that is no excuse,” Shastri said.
Following the Wanderers Test, India is scheduled to play a six-match ODI series against South Africa, beginning February 1 at the Kingsmead Cricket Stadium. (ANI)