Ravi Shastri
Bold Ravi Shastri stated Team India won't be making any of the excuses regarding the pitch: Photo Credit: BCCI.

Team India coach Ravi Shastri stated that the visiting team will be playing an attacking brand of cricket irrespective of the conditions in the 5 match series against England. The 1st Test begins on 1st August at Birmingham. During an exclusive interview with ESPN Cricinfo, Shastri revealed several aspects on the game. He revealed that India will always play an attacking brand of cricket in the series.

India has played some exceptional cricket in all 3 formats of the game. They stand a great chance of clinching the series in England. The squad boasts of some class players. Perhaps for the first time they have a bowling attack who has the ability to take 20 wickets consistently in Test cricket. Despite India’s aggressive approach they were found wanting against Essex in the only practice game.

The top order was vulnerable. Opener Shikhar Dhawan bagged a king pair. However, the likes of Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Murali Vijay and Dinesh Karthik scored impressive half-centuries. Speaking on the tentative performances by the top order batters, Shastri said that the experience of the top order batters should keep India in good stead.

Ravi Shastri, Virat Kohli
Photo Credit: AP

The top order has experience says Ravi Shastri 

“They have experience. What you want is when you get in, they have got the experience to make it count. If they do that it will be a brilliant platform for the middle order, which, like I said, has the goods to convert that into a good score,” Shastri said.

He was asked whether the openers are well equipped to the English conditions. Dhawan has failed time and again in England. However, Murali Vijay has performed quite well in all conditions. Hence he will be a very important player for the visiting team.

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“Yesterday morning [the first day of the warm-up match against Essex], if you get those conditions [fresh green pitch, new ball seaming and swinging], I don’t care who the opening batsman is – it is tough. On such mornings you need your slice of luck, but you have to be prepared to go through the grind like M Vijay did in that period of play.

India Will Play Attacking Brand of Cricket Irrespective of Conditions Says Ravi Shastri
Here is the predicted XI of India for the first Test against England. Credits: BCCI

You could nick one any time, but you have to get that mental discipline that, yes, the pitch will ease out after lunch and that will make the job for the other players in the team easier. So my role is that even if I get 20-25 runs. If I have seen the team through that early period to make it easier for someone else, I have done a lot. It is about playing the conditions. It is very important you see the tough period through,” Shastri added.

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