Third and final ODI today
Centurion: Indian batsmen have been reeling under the onslaught of South African bowlers on bouncy wickets in the ongoing ODI series here but opener Rohit Sharma, on Tuesday, dismissed talks of lack of technique and blamed the debacle to want of application.
Rohit said the South African conditions were not a problem for his side’s batsmen and the fault lay mainly in the lack of big partnerships, which he said has resulted in the visitors already losing the three-match series after back-to-back defeats.
“Last game in Durban, the conditions were pretty much similar to what we get in India. There was a bit of bounce, but as a batsman you need to understand that you are playing in South Africa. It is really up to each individual how they tackle it, understand their game and adjust accordingly and know what shots to be played on these kind of pitches,” said Rohit at the match-eve press conference ahead of the third and final ODI here on Wednesday.
“What are missing are partnerships. Over the last year, we have maintained good partnerships and it is not happening here. We need to get one 100-run partnership and a couple of 50-run partnerships. That is not happening, but I am sure we have one more game and hopefully the batsmen will step up and take the responsibility,” he said.
Rohit said the team was looking for a better show in the third ODI here on Wednesday.
“The ball swings here more than in India. But we have played in England and in West Indies. Coach Duncan Fletcher has been telling us that this is the best to bat, once you are in. It is about understanding what shots you need to play,” Rohit said.
“We are here to compete and not have fun and just look around South Africa. Since the day we arrived here, we have wanted to prove a point. We tried our best, but unfortunately it did not work out. Tomorrow’s game will give us an ideal opportunity. The bowlers will have to step up, and the batsmen will have to step up. We need to get together”, he said.
Meanwhile, Proteas all-rounder Ryan McLaren said that his side will not take their feet off the pedal and will play with the same intensity in the third and final match.
McLaren said winning the three-match ODI series has given the psychological advantage to his side going into the Test series which begins on December 18.
“We thought our intensity might drop after the first match, but it was not so. We will definitely not let that happen here either. We are not a team looking for fear in the eyes of the opposition, but at the same time, we want to bowl aggressively and with energy,” McLaren said at the match-eve press conference.
“We have kept up the intensity throughout and psychologically, we have made inroads going into the Test series,” he said. (PTI)