Technique no issue for Ind A batsmen: Rajput
First Published : 14 Jun 2012, 15:32
Last Modified : 14 Jun 2012, 15:32
Mumbai, June 14: India A’s tour to the West Indies was touted to be a competition among the generation next of India’s batting stars to stake a claim for the spots about to open up in the Test side. However, in the first two unofficial Tests against West Indies A, the talented bunch of batsmen have failed to live up to their promise, failing to reach the 300-run mark in four attempts.
The batting collapse reached its culmination when India A folded for 94 in the second Test chasing 220 for victory. The top three batsmen in the batting line-up, Abhinav Mukund, Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan have so far managed 16, 28 and 30 runs in four innings so far.
India A Coach Lalchand Rajput, however, refuses to accept that the collective batting failure is a result of chinks in the technique of the young Indian batsmen.
“Once they spend more time, the runs will start to come. There is no fault in their technique. Just a matter of application,” Rajput told The Indian Express.
Inability to stitch a formidable opening partnership has plagued the team’s batting in the two Tests so far, putting pressure on the following batsmen on tricky two-paced pitches with variable bounce. Captain Cheteshwar Pujara has been the lone ray of light in the gloomy batting line-up with 214 runs in the first two Tests. He has scored three half-centuries, one of which came in a thrilling successful chase in the first Test at Bridgetown.
Rajput wants the top-order to take more responsibilities in the rest of the series. “It is very important for the openers to score. They have not clicked so far. We have the best batting line-up possible here and these boys have the ability to do well.”
While admitting the Caribbean wickets are difficult to bat on, the coach said that is no excuse for the batsmen who aim to establish themselves at the highest level of international cricket.
“Rohit, Rahane and Tiwary did fall prey to balls that just kept really low. The two tracks so far have been really challenging for the boys. If these boys have to succeed at the highest level, they have to be ready for such things,” Rajput said.
