Following India’s 76-run defeat to South Africa, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate delivered a candid assessment of the team’s situation. The loss, which ended India’s 12-match winning streak, has left the defending champions’ World Cup campaign in a precarious position.
Management Gambles Backfire
Speaking at the post-match press conference, ten Doeschate acknowledged that some of the team’s tactical decisions, particularly benching vice-captain Axar Patel, had not worked as intended. He also stressed that the team is allowed a poor performance, given the highly competitive stage of the Super 8 round, seeking to shield players from harsh public criticism after the Ahmedabad defeat.
No Halfway Expectations in World Cup
Ten Doeschate emphasized that defending a World Cup is never easy, especially with India’s Net Run Rate plunging to -3.800. He reminded the squad and fans that a single match should not define the campaign.
“Very disappointed with the performance. But when you aim to win a World Cup, don’t expect someone to deliver it halfway through the tournament. We know we made mistakes tonight, and it’s acceptable to slip up at this stage,” he said.
He further added, “We’ve messed up on a grand scale. Now it’s on this group to bounce back with strong performances against Zimbabwe and the West Indies.”
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On Axar Patel’s Omission
The decision to field Washington Sundar instead of Axar Patel was based on pre-match analysis, focusing on South Africa’s left-handed top order. However, the plan faltered as the matchups did not play out as expected.
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“Our analysis suggested Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickleton, and David Miller would be the main threats. We thought Washi could be effective in the powerplay, but since he didn’t bowl there tonight, Axar would have been the better choice through the middle overs,” explained ten Doeschate.
Abhishek Sharma’s Health Issues
Addressing India’s ongoing batting struggles, the coach revealed that Abhishek Sharma had been impacted by food poisoning prior to the World Cup, affecting his preparation.
“I won’t make excuses for Abhi or Tilak, but Abhi’s food poisoning clearly hampered his progress. Scoring three ducks in recent games inevitably affects confidence,” he said.
Looking Ahead: Must-Win vs Zimbabwe
With a crucial clash against Zimbabwe scheduled for February 26 in Chennai, ten Doeschate indicated that the team needs to regroup quickly. He hinted that management may consider tweaking the lineup, possibly bringing in Sanju Samson to strengthen the batting order.