• Source:JND
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India vs South Africa: Indian captain Rohit Sharma turned down the lack of practice matches being the problem for the team in adjusting to the conditions overseas, specifically in the recent loss against South Africa.

India suffered a humiliating defeat by an innings and 32 runs in the first Test against South Africa at the SuperSport Park in Centurion.

While India got their dream of the maiden Test series win on South African soil shattered after going 1-0 down in the two-match series, Rohit was asked in the press conference about the team's decision to snub practice matches over intra-squad contests.

 

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The Indian skipper mentioned the nature of wickets and the players in the opponent team in the practice matches as the reason behind the team's decision to play intra-squad matches instead.

He said that the wickets that are used for practice matches are totally different from what they get in the official match. They didn't produce the amount of bounce and pace the actual match pitches do.

"We have been playing practice matches in the last 4-5 years. We also tried to play first-class matches. The wicket that you get in the matches, you won't get that in the practice matches. It is better that we prepare according to our requirements, we prepare the pitch according to our requirements. We can have control of the ground," said Rohit in the press conference.

"When we went to Australia the last time when we played in South Africa in 2018, the ball didn't bounce beyond the knee-roll on practice pitches. But here, the ball flies over your head. So, all these things were considered and we decided to prepare according to our own style," Rohit added.

Rohit went on to say that he is ready to feature in the practice matches on tours if the wickets provided are similar to the ones used in actual matches.

"If you get the conditions in a practice match that would be similar to the ones in the Tests, then it's fine. Bowlers also, we get pacers who bowl 120-125 kph. We have experienced that in the last two or three practice matches. It's better we face our own bowlers and prepare pitch according to our will," he asserted.

The Indian team has been heavily criticised by former players and experts in the past as well for not playing practice matches in order to get familiar with the overseas conditions, specifically in tough tours like Australia, England, and South Africa.

 

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Talking about the first Test match in Centurion, the visitors put up a horrible display with the bat, having scored just 245 runs and 131 in both innings.

The bowling performance only added to the wounds as they allowed South Africa to score 408 runs in their first inning on the back of Dean Elgar's 185 runs which was enough for them to go 1-0 up in the series.