After looking at the pitch of the first Test match between India and Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens, the Indian team had a taste of what would happen in South Africa when the first ball of the game took KL Rahul by surprise to extract an edge of his bat.
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Indian skipper Virat Kohli himself confirmed that the team management had asked for the conditions similar to the country so as to prepare for the tour and now, Cheteshwar Pujara has also batted for the same sort of conditions being provided in India as he has said that the team should practice here before the tour,
“Even if you are in India, we need to try and replicate wickets in South Africa and England and then try and practice here,” Pujara said after the end of day 3.
Pujara though did not comment on the matter of cramped schedule which has now seen the members of Indian team flying to South Africa just two days after the end of month-long Sri Lanka series,
“As far as practice games are concerned, I should not be the one commenting. It also depends on the schedule and how BCCI plans the tours. But going there a little bit early – a week or ten days early, and then practising on those pitches are important. As an individual, you need to be prepared,” he said.
Pujara also backed vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane to be back in form. Rahane has just not been able to score runs in the series and has come under the scanner for a decline in his form,
“Rahane is a class player. Obviously, this is the time when he is not scoring but he is someone, who will be back in form soon. His work ethics are remarkable and I am very sure that going forward, he is one inning away. The moment he gets a big score, he will be back in form and be quite a useful player for the Indian team,” he added.
Though Rahane is struggling with the bat at the moment but there are high chances of him taking up the captaincy role in the next Test match as Virat Kohli is expected to be rested for third Test and limited overs leg against Sri Lanka.
If Virat is rested for the third Test, then it will be second Test match for Rahane as captain while if this will not be the case, Rahane will continue to perform the role of his deputy.
Talking of the game, India holds an advantage at the moment as the home side is leading by a margin of 384 runs and need nine wickets to win the game. If Sri Lanka wants to draw the game, they have to bat for the remainder of two days.
Indian bowlers will be looking to come out fresh on day four and take quick wickets – as they did on day 1 – to take an extra day off before going in the final Test which will be played at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in New Delhi.
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