(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] India are touring South Africa for three T20Is, three ODIs and two Test matches.
It is an important assignment for India, which will start with the T20I series on December 10. The focus will then shift to ODIs with the first match taking place in Johannesburg on December 17. The Test series will commence on December 26 in Centurion.
South Africa is also being considered as the final frontier for India as they are yet to win a Test series in the Rainbow Nation.
India head coach Rahul Dravid, who has been given a contract extension, spoke on the tough batting conditions in South Africa, stressing the importance of having separate game plans for different individuals.
Having visited South Africa on numerous occasions himself, Dravid surely would have an idea about how difficult is to bat there.
“So, it is a challenging place to bat; the statistics will tell you that. It is one of the more difficult places to bat in, especially up here in Centurion and Johannesburg. The wickets do tend to do a bit, and they tend to get up and down as well. Every one of the batsmen will have a game plan as to how they want to go, as long as they are clear about it and they commit to it and are practicing towards that, that’s fine,” Dravid said as quoted to Star Sports.
Further in the interaction, Dravid advised the players to stick to their strengths, emphasising the need to make match-winning contributions by not wasting an opportunity whenever they get set.
“We don’t expect everyone to play in the same way. We want them to be very clear about what works for them, and then be able to execute that. The boys, once they get out there, a lot of it is mental, and I guess, you know, we try and stress on the fact that if we do get going if we get the opportunity to get set, they try to make it a match-winning contribution,” Dravid added.