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Here is the full transcript of India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak's press conference ahead of their second Super 8 clash against India in ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Chennai.
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00:00Coach, so far in this tournament, Indian batters, they have a batting average of 20, which is
00:06lowest among all the teams that have qualified for the Super 8.
00:10India also have 11 ducks, Indian batters have scored 11 ducks, which is again one of the
00:15most.
00:16And now, so do you think what has went wrong for the team as a batting coach, if you can
00:23a little bit explain, is it the adaptability factor, is it the execution factor, and how
00:28are you planning to change this, now the tournament has become a virtual knockout for the Indian
00:34team.
00:35See, all the bilaterals and all, betting was really clicking well.
00:41I think in this World Cup also, the last game was little concerned, because in a year and
00:49a half roughly, a couple of times only, we got less than 150.
00:55So, not really looking, I am not really looking at individual, how many times somebody failed
01:00or how, because then we start putting a pressure on the way they bet.
01:07But, last game also, I think we should take it in a stride that it was the worst game we
01:11played in two years.
01:13So, we should just, honestly I feel we should just don't think about it too much and move
01:18ahead.
01:20World Cup, especially our openers have not clicked as good as we want.
01:24Issan obviously played a brilliant knockout against Pakistan, but Abhishek had a little
01:29rough page two, three games, it's fine.
01:31I mean, we, I honestly, I personally wouldn't stress too much on it.
01:35I would rather look ahead, obviously we are preparing, we are talking and, you know, we
01:39are planning what oppositions are trying to bowl at them, they'll bowl off spinner, spacers
01:45are bowling outside the off-stamp, all that obviously, you would also know that.
01:48It's not difficult to make out that, so, so, not really so concerned about anything to be
01:54very honest.
01:57Goj, following up, Indian batters have struggled on, you know, slower side of pitches, black
02:02soil pitches.
02:03You have seen the pitch here, what are your thoughts on the pitch and what do you expect?
02:09First thing, I don't think we struggle on Blacksville.
02:13Slower pitches in T20, if it becomes very slow, then anybody struggles, but I don't even
02:21think wickets have been that slow.
02:22So, that is one thing.
02:24Here also, wicket, high scoring it looks, right?
02:27Sometimes, if you lose three wickets in one over, or if you get a low score, that time,
02:33I don't think we should be even blaming wickets or that's wrong now, because I think it's,
02:38we have to just try and stay positive, play better cricket and I think it's apart from
02:43the last game, I think we have done reasonably well.
02:45There is not so much of concern before that.
02:49Since the West Wing, West Wing game tomorrow, several form of leaders have been saying that,
02:54you know, a team should show a little bit of temperament.
02:56I mean, I have a feel of a soft weight and then slowly, you know, I guess, you know, and
03:00then short writing, score on sixes and fours, you know.
03:03So, how is that, you are working on the temperament?
03:06In T20, if you worry too much about temperament and not playing your shorts freely, there will
03:13be other…
03:17So, for that, honestly, if you lose couple of wickets, you have to try and see that,
03:24you see a few bowls and play normal cricket for next six to eight bowls.
03:29If you worry from bowl one that you want to try and be careful and not utilize the powerplay
03:36and all, I think most of the time, any team does that, end up scoring below par runs.
03:41So, it is more about planning when you want to adapt the condition and the situation and
03:47then how you want to execute rather than thinking negative from over one.
03:53Coach, in Ahmedabad, Surya has said that, you know, those who are fighting, Surya is fighting them.
04:01So, what do you think?
04:02That, after South Africa, the hit after that, actually, the team is fighting, especially
04:06the batters.
04:07Because now, you both are must-win games.
04:09Our run rate is very bad.
04:11And in such situations, when we host the team and the nation, the team is struggling
04:17especially in batting.
04:19Do you think that our batters have been exposed?
04:25What do you think?
04:28I don't think that there is anything like that.
04:31Because when we have the last match, we have the best match for them.
04:39And, obviously, we didn't bet that well.
04:42So, these are all the things I think.
04:45Obviously, three-inning out was a little bit of health.
04:48And then, after that, the momentum didn't come.
04:51But, last game, again, he looked good.
04:56Or, overthinking about one individual, personally, I never liked.
05:00Because, I am eight batsmen, eight, two-rounders, or six batsmen.
05:04If we focus on one person, obviously, without saying, that person also will be under pressure.
05:10So, when he was in the 180s, 70s, 30s, 90s, 40s, 50s, 100s, that time, nobody was discussing that.
05:19So, our job is to keep him in a good frame of mind.
05:23And, once he starts hitting the ball again, you will see the same Obisek again.
05:27There is no doubt.
05:29Now, in this game, nobody can give guarantee.
05:31In next match, then, he will give it.
05:32But, I think he is not far.
05:37Sir, hi.
05:38Just wanted to ask you, Ryan, in the press conference, had said, after the match against South Africa,
05:43that Sanju would be a point of discussion for the next few days.
05:46So, I just wanted to know if there have been any conversations to that regard.
05:51And, are we expected to see any changes with regard to Sanju and Akshar?
05:56There can be changes, yes.
05:58And, obviously, it goes without saying that we discussed.
06:02Because, there are two lefty opening, number three is left-handed,
06:07and oppositions bowling off-screener.
06:09I personally don't think that there is any problem there also.
06:13But, because we lost three games, we lost wicket in first over.
06:17Obviously, any team would think.
06:18So, we are thinking and we will see how it…
06:22Because, we never decide the team too early.
06:25And, obviously, it is not fair to start telling your planning also in so advance.
06:30But, yes, definitely there will be thoughts.
06:37Hello.
06:39Are you surprised with the emergence power of West Indies and Zimbabwe in this tournament?
06:46Did you expect it before the tournament?
06:48Or, suddenly, you realize that, you know, the two giants are coming out?
06:51Well, West Indies, we all know that their betting and particularly that row power is their strength.
06:59So, obviously, we have to prepare accordingly.
07:03Zimbabwe, when they came unbeaten, yes.
07:06That was a surprise, not for us, for everyone.
07:09They beat Australia, the way they played, they beat Sri Lanka.
07:12So, they are also playing good cricket.
07:14So, that's fine.
07:15But, I mean, in hindsight, if you ask me,
07:19if Zimbabwe wouldn't have won against Australia,
07:22we would have been playing Australia here.
07:23So, that is fine.
07:24I don't think we need to worry about who we play.
07:27I think we need to more worry about how we play.
07:29So, that's how I look at it.
07:34Going by the nets yesterday,
07:37we saw Abhishek Sharma bowl first up
07:39and Sanju Samson was batting with the other openers in number 3 and 4.
07:43Is it an indication that Sanju will play tomorrow?
07:46And, second, what is the update on Rinku?
07:48Will he join back or is there going to be a replacement or what is the update on Rinku?
07:53So, one thing that normally in every net,
07:57Abhishek doesn't bet to start with.
08:00He always bet in a second or a third pair.
08:04So, that's one thing.
08:05Sanju's betting, Sanju would normally always bet
08:09if we have that space because Abhishek doesn't bet.
08:11And Sanju is a third opener and a wicketkeeper.
08:14So, he bets anywhere.
08:16Sometimes, he wants to do some drills and he goes behind and do things.
08:19That time he doesn't.
08:20So, that's not an indication.
08:21Yes, definitely there will be thought about playing him.
08:23There is no doubt.
08:24But, Nets doesn't give any indication I don't think.
08:28So, I don't think that is…
08:31But, yes, there will be…
08:33And Rinku, his father wasn't well.
08:36So, he went back and I think he is coming back today evening.
08:39So, hopefully he will be back today evening.
08:48You said that Abhishek doesn't think so much about Abhishek.
08:51He's coming out quickly.
08:52But, as a management, as a coaching group,
08:54when you see a player in Tilak,
08:56who is playing a 20-22 ball,
08:58but he doesn't give enough momentum in middle-overs.
09:01So, is he more than a batter
09:03who is out on the other and third ball?
09:06So, how do you address it?
09:07Because, yesterday, we saw 4-4 hours in the Nets.
09:11There were a lot of discussions.
09:12Gauti and Tilak had a lot of animated discussions.
09:15Then, you were also talking hard.
09:17So, how do you think about this player?
09:18How do you think about running a ball?
09:21He doesn't have to be out on the run-a-ball.
09:22So, what do you think about the team?
09:24No, I honestly don't think so.
09:27Honestly, that is not just to say.
09:29But, Tilak has no issues like this.
09:32Because, in the Pakistan game,
09:34our target,
09:36earlier,
09:37I said,
09:38175 on that wicket was good enough.
09:41This one had a good start.
09:43And, the planning,
09:44that was all we had.
09:45Because, the same thing,
09:47there was actually a ball spin.
09:49And, what after that start,
09:52any team wouldn't want is
09:531-3-4 wickets.
09:54So, Tilak also, and again,
09:57it is a matter of two boundaries.
10:00Sometimes, a batsman doesn't get those balls.
10:03If he is on the 30-32 ball,
10:06on the 34-35 ball,
10:08or on the 26 ball,
10:09on the 28 ball,
10:10if he is on the 28 ball,
10:11if he is on the 28 ball,
10:13then he will be on the 38 ball.
10:15So, I don't think,
10:16run a ball or such,
10:17there is no question.
10:18Neither,
10:19he has any instruction.
10:21Neither,
10:21he is thinking himself.
10:23Sometimes,
10:24depending on wickets,
10:25and depending on situation,
10:26I think,
10:27there was more about
10:28partnerships,
10:29in that game,
10:30in Colombo.
10:31And, I think,
10:31we achieved that.
10:32Yes,
10:32if the first ball was out,
10:35we were hoping,
10:36until 190.
10:37And, we knew that,
10:38that was above pass score.
10:39And, everyone knows that.
10:41So,
10:41so,
10:42aisa,
10:42aisa,
10:42aisa,
10:42aisa,
10:42aisa,
10:43aisa,
10:45aisa,
10:45aisa,
10:45tension.
10:46iisi aisa,
10:46tensei nainya hai hai.
10:47Clicking 2 saal mahi,
10:49the lowest,
10:50we have scored in 2 years.
10:51If a match,
10:52if a matchnÄ…sted
10:53will be able,
10:54i don't think,
10:54If,
10:55eb jada analyzer karne ka,
10:56merhe k wo,
11:05lak
11:05You rather look at positives than trying to find negatives.
11:09And Tilakka toh koi question nahi hai.
11:11Aisa kuch personally as a betting kuch meh soch raha hoi.
11:15I don't think anyone is thinking that.
11:17It's absolutely fine.
11:18I think next two game,
11:20am bolenge must win hai avi.
11:22To be very honest,
11:23humar elia yaa se sab meh must win hai.
11:26Or World Cup mein wo situation toh koi arek team ka hai.
11:29I mean, it's not that it is must win for us only.
11:32But because last game humar itna achha nahi gaya,
11:35it's absolutely fine.
11:36If you want to go and win the World Cup,
11:39you expect to beat all the side you play,
11:42whether it's Australia, whether it's Zimbabwe,
11:44whether it's West Indies or whoever it comes.
11:46So I don't think that kind of a worry or panic or anything at all.
11:51The discussions, to be very honest if I tell you,
11:54it's more about tacticals.
11:56Lot of tactical discussion goes on,
11:58ki the guys are bowling here,
12:00this is how we are approaching,
12:02this is how you are approaching,
12:03what other options you have.
12:05For any batsman, not for Tilak.
12:07For Obisik also, if you would have seen yesterday,
12:09it was same thing we talk.
12:11Those things are more planning,
12:13what a batsman can prepare
12:15and how much he actually wants to do that.
12:18Because end of the day,
12:19it is batsman's thing to decide what he likes,
12:22what he wants to do.
12:23But to give different ideas is obviously our job.
12:27Gautam talks to everyone,
12:28it's more, lot he talks about the different things.
12:31And one thing you also know that when players are playing,
12:36observing from outside is easy.
12:38We know what bowlers are doing,
12:39we know what batsmen can do differently.
12:41So all that we know, then we talk to them.
12:44And those discussions, we prefer during the practice,
12:48rather than just making like a conversation,
12:51sitting somewhere and all.
12:52It's while they are betting,
12:54discussing is a good thing.
12:58Coach, as you rightly pointed out,
13:00that the South Africa defeat was a rare blip in the team.
13:03In the last two years,
13:04if I am not wrong,
13:04that was the eighth defeat in 42 matches.
13:07Now, obviously the team is doing a lot of things right in the last two years.
13:11Now,
13:12with such a defeat and with little concerns with the batting,
13:15how hard or easy it is for the management to change something
13:18that is working so well for two years
13:20and suddenly you are forced to change.
13:21So do you change?
13:22Do you stick to the template?
13:25How hard is that?
13:26I honestly don't think we need to change too many things.
13:30Tactically,
13:31like people ask about Sanju's right-handed upfront,
13:34that kind of things.
13:36Or you think of playing three spinners,
13:40that kind of thing.
13:40Obviously, there are 15 players,
13:42so all those we will discuss.
13:44I don't think at all that we need to worry about
13:47where we bat or anything.
13:49Once,
13:49we have not got opening start.
13:51Once you get opening start,
13:52it will be a different environment again.
13:54So we just keep trying to reinforce that,
13:57that we will try and get good opening start.
14:00Obisek start hitting few balls,
14:02start of his inning.
14:03He gets one good inning.
14:04All that and obviously Tilak and Surya.
14:07I think everyone looks in good form.
14:09It is just that such a great momentum we had
14:13because of couple of failures,
14:16couple of early dismissals,
14:18that has changed a little.
14:19So we are trying to get it back as soon as we can
14:21and that is all we should do.
14:22I don't think anything more we need to think or do.
14:29Kuldeep's played only one game in this tournament.
14:32How difficult is it to fit two wrist spinners into your 11,
14:35given the combination that you prefer?
14:38I personally think it is difficult because you want in T20 game,
14:43you want betting till eight also.
14:45So if number eight,
14:46if you are thinking about the spinner,
14:48then you will obviously think about an all-rounder.
14:52So seven bettors,
14:55I think any team would normally prefer number eight,
15:00all-rounder or a person who can score 30-40 runs if required.
15:05Because so many times on these wickets,
15:07yes, so far it has not been the case.
15:08But if you are chasing 200-220,
15:10and if you won 50 for six,
15:13you would think that that all-rounder can get that 20 runs
15:16and create a partnership and win you the game.
15:20So it is not difficult to play two wrist spinners.
15:24Same situation with Siraj also.
15:26He also bowled well.
15:27But at the end of the day only 11 can play.
15:29So you try and keep that balance what team requires
15:32and pick the best 11.
15:33So they all are obviously outstanding players.
15:36But only 11 can play.
15:39So according to the situation
15:41and according to the team balance,
15:44obviously we will try and pick the 11.
15:50Coach, it is not often that these players have faced
15:54the huge pressure that they are facing right now,
15:58especially playing for India.
15:59Over your career you have played some big pressure games.
16:02So what would you tell them to kind of
16:05be at their best without being bogged down by the pressure?
16:10How do you get the best out of them considering…
16:12See, obviously World Cup,
16:14World Cup in India,
16:15there will be pressure.
16:17I am a big believer that any international game you play,
16:21even…
16:21I have played some ordinary district game.
16:24When you go to bet now,
16:25you will feel pressure.
16:26If you don't feel that anxiety,
16:28it means you are not playing cricket.
16:29So that anxiety,
16:31you learn to deal with it from the start of your career.
16:35And this is a big pressure game obviously
16:37when you are representing country and a World Cup in India.
16:39And a lot of expectation.
16:40But I honestly believe that for a professional,
16:44that is part of his life.
16:45And we should deal with that in a positive manner.
16:50And just because we lost one game and we not got partnership and all,
16:54people talk more about it.
16:56But I honestly think they all are good enough to handle that pressure.
16:59And we have to.
17:00If we want to win the World Cup,
17:02we have to handle that pressure.
17:03If we can't, then it's tough.
17:04And I don't believe that there is anything this team cannot handle.
17:09So it's just…
17:10I am personally looking for that momentum.
17:13Once we start getting that momentum again,
17:15if we do it from tomorrow,
17:17I think they will be picking up at the right time.
17:20So I am looking at it that way.
17:24Hi Coach.
17:25So there is a stat that I read online
17:27that was the first loss for India in an ICC tournament
17:31in the last 826 days.
17:34So sort of flipping everything around,
17:36we tend to go all doom and gloom when India loses a match.
17:39But having said that,
17:40it's been more than 2 years since India had lost a match.
17:42So, does the mood remain positive
17:44and is India going to continue to play the brand of cricket
17:47that served them so well for the last 2 years?
17:49Definitely, we will play the same brand of cricket.
17:52Yes, if like I said,
17:54sometime you lose couple of quick crickets
17:55and somebody try to see off 6-8 balls,
18:00not defending,
18:01but maybe the short selection,
18:04or a risk percentage shorts you play.
18:06But that's about it.
18:07Otherwise, T20 game,
18:08I think we have to be very positive
18:09and play the same brand of cricket
18:11which has given us the success.
18:13And that is clearly the way we will play.
18:16There won't be any difference.
18:17Yes, if wicket is different
18:19and you have to adjust to wicket
18:20like in Colombo we did,
18:22that's fine.
18:23That's part of the game.
18:24But otherwise, no.
18:25the intent and the way we play,
18:28the brand we play,
18:29the same will continue.
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