The Ravindra Jadeja-led bowling attack helped India Blue to a 337-run first innings lead by wrapping up the India Red innings for 356. However, the Gautam Gambhir-led team did not enforce the follow on and decided to bat a second time with still two days left in the Duleep Trophy final.
Explaining the team’s strategy, coach Aashish Kappor said, “We are looking to force an outright win, but I think we took a bit too long in getting them out. The way things were going in the first session, if had got them all out before the lights came on or just after the lights came on, we probably would have thought of a follow on, we were undecided.
“The bowlers have put in a lot of effort on this wicket. About 1000 runs have been scored. Just because you say it is a turning or a spinning track, it doesn’t become one. If it was a red ball it might have been the kind of wicket that we were talking about, but with this pink ball the odd ball turns. The batsmen are still doing well, so we don’t want them to have a sniff. We would like to bat on for at least another one or two sessions, set them a target and go for a win after that.
The bowlers put in a lot of effort in this heat and so we didn’t want to make them bowl again for the next two days. If they get really tried and bowling without energy then they are going through motions then you are not going for a win. If you don’t get wickets then you are just standing there, so we don’t want to do that. If we are on the field we want to go there and enforce a win,” he elaborated.
Asked about the success that the wrist spinners had prior to this match he said, “I feel that the grass is gone. The wrist spinners were getting the ball to skid; especially under lights, the ball used to go a little quicker than it did in the day time and that was surprising the batsman. Batsmen were playing for the speed at which the ball was coming on at day time, but during night somehow the ball was skidding a little bit more and hitting the pads or the batsmen were getting late on the ball. In this match, I think because the grass is gone, the ball is not skidding that much, so that element is gone. There is still turn available, but it’s one odd ball that is turning sharply. The colour of the ball is lost when the grass is gone. These small experiments will help to see how the pink ball will work. This ball was not gripping like a SG Test ball would have.”
Discussing the pink ball in a first-class game under lights he said, “When anything new comes people are a little expectant after all it’s a ball it’s not a bomb. Only the colour has changed. So what? Batsmen are still scoring runs and bowlers are still taking wickets nothing changes. It’s the same boundary it’s the same cricket field.”
Asked what he and the captain had told the team which helped them come out on top, the coach said, “Gambhir has also spoken and I also had a word during the first match with the bowlers – just before they went in. It was a simple message. We will not complain about the ball, we will not complain about the wicket. This is the wicket and this is the ball that we have we have use our ability our brain to get the batsmen out. Use field settings, there are other ways (to get the batsmen out) if (the ball) doesn’t seam or turn to get the batsman out. Need to use your head to get batsmen out. And today again reminded them of it.”
Speaking about the reason for the team’s consistent performance, he added, “It’s very simple cricket. And like I said before, we have a very able captain and a very good all round side, but you still have to play good cricket. Other sides also had decent compositions but overall we consistently played better cricket. We enjoyed each other’s company and success. The rain truncated match also worked as it helped the team gel well at that time.”
