Johannesburg: Indian head coach Ravi Shastri on Monday came out in support of the team management’s decision of selecting Rohit Sharma over Ajinkya Rahane, saying that it was a good move going by, ‘current form’, echoing what the captain had said after the first Test.
Statistically, Rahane has been India’s best bet with the bat in overseas conditions but he was benched in the first two matches in Cape Town and Centurion where in both cases, the team failed to go all the way, facing 72 and 135 run losses respectively.
Sharma, who was made to play going by, ‘current form’ failed to make any impact in both these games, which as a result invited a lot of criticism.
“If Ajinkya (Rahane) had played the first Test and not done well, you would have asked me the same question about why Rohit hasn’t played. Rohit played, he didn’t do well, so you are asking me why Ajinkya didn’t play,” Shastri said, when asked about the selection policy of the team.
He further added, “The same would have happened with the fast bowlers. So you have choices. The team management has discussed what is the best option. They stick by it and they go by it.
“Overseas, you go on current form, you go on conditions. You see which player can adapt to certain conditions quicker than the other.”
The practice sessions on both Sunday and Monday signal the fact that Rahane might finally get to feature in the third Test. India have already lost the series 2-0.
Shastri also said that the playing conditions are kept in mind while selecting a team.
“Chopping and changing overseas is easier. In India, you don’t need to chop and change because you know what the conditions are and for which bowler to play, as opposed to what kind of track you will get,” he explained.
The 55-year-old also said, “Whether you need a bowler with bounce or you need a bowler with swing, so that’s where the chopping and changing starts.”
He even took a dig at the experts, who have criticised Kohli for the team selection, stating that it, “doesn’t affect” them.
“Experts are meant to do a job. They can say what they want. It doesn’t affect us. They have a job to do, so they are entitled to what they say,” said Shastri.
The head coach also opined that an additional 10 days of practice would have made a difference. India had cancelled a two-day practice match ahead of the first Test but Shastri said the team would travel earlier in overseas tours to complete their preparation.
“In hindsight I would say another ten days of practice here would have made a difference. But that’s no excuse,” he said. “Unfortunately the schedule was such that you had matches. But am sure henceforth in the future when itineraries are made that will be taken into account, there is absolutely no doubt about that. You get there couple of weeks earlier and prepare,” he said.
With the third Test yet to be played, India, who were won a nine-series unbeaten streak have conceded the series 2-0 and they need to pull off a favourable result in Johannesburg, if they have to salvage some pride for themselves.