Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Cape Town, January 9
India’s batsmen must show a more positive mindset to combat the South Africa bowling attack, skipper Virat Kohli said after losing the first Test here today. The match was effectively over in three days with Sunday washed out as 18 wickets fell in 64 overs on Day 4 on a seamer-friendly Cape Town wicket and South Africa won by 72 runs.
“The pitch was outstanding. I really like the type of wicket this was,” said Kohli. “It was great for Test cricket and we got a result within four days having lost a day,” Kohli said. “It was not one-sided, both teams were in it at different stages. As a team, we really enjoyed being part of this Test and so did South Africa.”
The skipper said the failure of his side to build partnerships was ultimately the difference between the defeat and what would have been a sweet victory in such unfamiliar conditions. “It was a wicket where things were happening every day and we let ourselves down with the bat,” he said. “We wanted one big partnership to get the job done, which we failed to do.”
Kohli suggested that with tracks that are likely to have even more bounce and pace in Pretoria and Johannesburg for the rest of the series, his batsmen needed to find a way to transfer the pressure on to the South African bowlers. “The mindset matters when you’re travelling away from home on pitches which challenge you. You need to be positive in defence and when you’re leaving also. You need to grab scoring opportunities.
“We need to think about taking the attack to the South African bowlers more. That is something for all the batsmen, starting at the very top.”
The second Test in Pretoria starts on Saturday.
