Sitanshu Kotak lashes out at India’s batting line-up and Abhishek Sharma: India have failed to win their first Super 8 game against South Africa, on Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. In 28 games in the last four ICC tournaments, the Men in Blue have lost only two games, both at the same venue. This was their first loss in an ICC game since the 2023 ODI World Cup final.
After a poor batting display from the Indian team, the batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, was upset. He has called the batter non-accountable and didn’t blame pressure or inexperience. As per the batting coach, it was just an off day for the batters.
”I don’t know what you can call experience”- Sitanshu Kotak
Sitanshu Kotak bluntly said, “If you ask me, I wouldn’t say it is pressure. I would not say it is inexperience either. If we call it inexperience, after all the T20 games, IPL, and international matches, I don’t know what you can call experience?”
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“Secondly, I don’t think there is any pressure. Today, particularly, I think we had a complete off day,” Kotak stated that the blame lies solely with execution and game awareness, as quoted by ETVBharat. “If it goes to 220, then it’s a tough chase. But, 180, 190, you have to chase. So, pressure or inexperience, I don’t think it is the case.”
He further added, “That is definitely a concern, and we will give it time and think about it. Do we have to do something about it? See, obviously, Surya and Gautam will talk about it. and if they feel that we need to do something different, we will do something different.”
“Now, we are in a situation where we have to think whether we need to change anything or do we still go with the same thing. And If we have to change something, what can we change and how do we change.”
“He will have to plan his innings better, which we discuss” – Sitanshu Kotak on Abhishek Sharma
Sitanshu Kotak talking about Abhishek Sharma’s form and the former’s coaching philosophy, “At this time, if you say a lot of things to the batsman, it might not be beneficial to them. Every batsman goes through such phases like Abhishek did. I have seen him go through such phases in the IPL before.”
“If there is time, like 15 days, we can do something, But you can’t tell him something and expect change in two days. It will put more doubts in his mind. This is my coaching philosophy.”
Abhishek Sharma has just scored 15 runs in four innings. Abhishek Sharma’s form has been a concern for India. He scored three ducks prior to the innings against the Proteas on Sunday.
He kept adding, “Otherwise, it is all about him watching the ball better. He will have to plan his inning better, which we discuss. Not just for Abhishek Sharma, but any player. But, in 2-3 matches, in such a high risk, high reward set-up, that thing is bound to happen.”
India’s semi-final qualification in doubt
After this humiliating loss, India’s next two fixtures against Zimbabwe and the West Indies are must-win games to qualify for the semi-finals. While speaking on that, Sitanshu Kotak elaborated on India’s need to absorb the extra pressure, “The amount of cricket we play, we have to take that pressure.”
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