Improved slip catching vital for India in South Africa: Ganguly
NEWDELHI: Catches win matches, goes the saying. But the Indian cricket team, despite doing very well in familiar conditions over the last two years, has not always held the chances in the slip cordon.
During their 2016-17 home campaign, when they won 10 of the 13 Tests, and even in the latest home series against Sri Lanka, India’s slip fielding was one of the most problematic areas.
Unless they drastically improve, it could prove to be their undoing on pace-friendly pitches in South Africa. Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly says catching must improve ahead of the three-match Test series starting in Cape Town on Friday.
“Slip catching needs to be at its best for India. Over there, the mode of dismissals will be completely different from the subcontinent and that is where the slip fielders will come into the game. The fielders need to pay more attention and their performance will be crucial to the team’s future,” Ganguly told India Today on Wednesday.
The most recent example of India’s disappointing show in the slips came during the final Test against Sri Lanka in New Delhi, where they missed crucial catches that could have prevented the struggling visitors from escaping with a draw. Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were all guilty of dropped catches. Cheteshwar Pujara acknowledged the issue in the post-match press conference, pointing out that forced rotation of openers due to injuries was also causing the problem.
Ganguly, however, felt the bouncy South Africa pitches may make life easy for the slip fielders.
“The conditions will be in their favour. The ball will carry to the slip cordon and the players need to use it to their advantage.”
Ganguly said the series will be an acid test for Virat Kohli.
“As a batsman, Virat has nothing more to prove. He is already one of the best batsmen in the world and thanks to him India has gone from a talented side to a winning side. But this series will be the biggest challenge of his captaincy.”
India have not won a Test series in South Africa. Ganguly feels this team can end the wait.
“This is their best chance to win... The team is well balanced and their performances have been quite impressive. But they need to fight as hard as they can and believe in themselves. There will be sessions where they will be completely outplayed. But they can’t lose heart, and it is important the seniors keep the rest of the side motivated.”