Indian captain Rohit Sharma feels that apart from Jasprit Bumrah, no bowler could make an impact against South Africa as the hosts posted a total of 408 on the board. After a defeat by an innings and 32 runs, Rohit said that the other three pacers need to play their roles and they should learn from how South African speedsters used the conditions.
"This was not a 400-run wicket and we gave too many runs. We sprayed the ball all around, but it happens. One can’t depend on one particular bowler (Bumrah), the other three pacers also needed to perform their roles, we could learn from how South Africa bowled," Rohit said in the post-match press conference at the SuperSport Park, Centurion.
Rohit lauded Bumrah who took four wickets in the first innings. He acknowledged the effort put in by the three places and wants them to take a lesson from the beating they got.
"Bumrah bowled well and we all know his quality. All he wanted was a bit of support which he didn’t get. That happens. All three tried hard, bending their backs but didn’t happen the way we wanted to. But games like these teaches you a lot as to what you want to do as a bowling unit,” the skipper said.
Rohit did not defend Prasidh Krishna who made his Test debut in Centurion. He compared them to Proteas fast bowlers who are inexperienced as well.
"Of course, he is a little bit inexperienced. He has got the tools to come out here and play the game. Obviously, if I look at the bowlers that we have back in India, some of them are injured, some not available, so we tried picking guys who are available, based on conditions,” the 36-year-old explained.
"I completely agree that he (Krishna) hasn’t played a lot of (red ball) cricket but there are three guys in their team also, who haven’t played a lot of (red ball cricket) but they showed what is required.
"More than what’s there in the legs, I think it’s in the mind. How you treat your mind and how you play the game is more important. If you think that oh, I haven't played, lot of Tests or FC cricket, then it’s not going to help,” he said.
"When you get an opportunity, you should be grateful and come out and do the job for the team. Obviously, it didn’t work out well for him and playing your first game, we all would have been nervous, he would have been nervous as well.
"These things happen, the guy has game to excel but we will back him and has a great attitude about his game which holds us in good stead going forward."
Rohit lauded KL Rahul for showing application to score a century in Centurion while batting with the tail.
"Look at what KL Rahul did in the first innings. It is a perfect example of showing intent as well as respecting the conditions. At end of the day, he scored at a strike-rate of 70 and he put the bad balls away. That is what we talk about intent," he said.
He wasn’t pleased with batters swinging their bats and not respecting the conditions.
"We can’t just go and swing our bats. That’s not the conditions to do that. You got to understand that there is a thin line between showing that intent and discipline as well," Rohit said.
"Every individual is different and we try talking to every individual in the way they want to play and keeping conditions in mind, what they can do. It’s a mixture of everything, intent, little bit of discipline and you can’t just go with one mindset in these conditions."
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