India’s team director Ravi Shastri made it absolutely certain that the hosts would stick to their strength, and would play three spinners for the first test against South Africa in Mohali. The wicket in Mohali is already being termed as a dry pitch, and it might even assist the spinners from the very first day. Shastri sounded optimistic, and was pleased with the nature of the pitch. He said that playing 3 spinners would be an ideal choice for Virat Kohli’s side.
Shastri was even quick to add that if needed, the hosts would even play four spinners. “Tomorrow you can play four spinners if you give me a pitch that will turn on the first day,” an emphatic Shastri said. “No rule that you have to play a fast bowler. West Indies played four fast bowlers in their time. No spinners. What stops a team from playing four spinners if you get a track of that kind?”
Shastri also backed the underperforming Shikhar Dhawan, and backed him to be at his best in the upcoming test series. Shastri said that people were wrong in judging Dhawan’s test form on the basis of his ODI form.
“That’s a mistake people make here,” Shastri said. “They mix Test form with one-day cricket form. Test form, he comes on the back of two hundreds in two matches. So is he in form or is he out of form? For me he is very much in form. And hot. If you remind me of that 187 against Australia, that I am sure will be in his mind, and will help him,” Shastri added.