Sitanshu Kotak takes aim at India’s batting line-up and Abhishek Sharma: India failed to win their first Super 8 game against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. 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 defeat in an ICC game since the 2023 ODI World Cup final.
Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak is angry after the poor batting performance of the Indian team. He described the batsman as irresponsible and did not blame pressure or inexperience. According to the batting coach, it was just an off day for the batsmen.
“I don’t know what you can call experience” – Sitanshu Kotak
Sitanshu Kotak candidly said, “If you ask me, I wouldn’t say it’s pressure. I wouldn’t even say it’s inexperience. If we call it inexperience, after all the T20 matches, IPL and international matches, I don’t know what you can call experience?”
“Secondly, I don’t think there is any pressure. Today, especially, I think we had a completely off day,” Kotak said, adding that the fault lies entirely with execution and game awareness, as quoted by ETV Bharat. “If it goes to 220, it’s a tough chase. But, 180, 190, you have to chase. So, pressure or inexperience, I don’t think it’s the case.”
He further added, “It is definitely a concern, and we will give it time and think about it. Do we have to do something about it? Look, obviously, Suriya and Gautam will talk about it. And if they feel we need to do something different, then we will do something different.”
“Now, we are in a situation where we have to think whether we need to change anything or whether we are still going on with the same thing. And if we have to change something, what can we change and how can we change.”
“He has to plan his innings better, which is what we discuss” – Sitanshu Kotak on Abhishek Sharma
Talking about Abhishek Sharma’s form and former coaching philosophy, Sitanshu Kotak said, “At this point of time, if you tell the batsman too many things, it may not be beneficial for him. Every batsman goes through such phases like Abhishek. 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 anything and expect change in two days. That will create more doubts in his mind. That’s my coaching philosophy.”
Abhishek Sharma has scored only 15 runs in four innings. Abhishek Sharma’s form remains a matter of concern for India. He was out for a duck three times before the innings against the Proteas on Sunday.
He further added, “Otherwise, it is about seeing the ball better. He has to plan his innings better, which is what we discuss. Not just for Abhishek Sharma, but for any player. But, in 2-3 matches, in such a high-risk, high-reward set-up, it is bound to happen.”
India’s reaching the semi-finals is in doubt
After this humiliating defeat, India will have to win the next two matches against Zimbabwe and West Indies to reach the semi-finals. Speaking on that, Sitanshu Kotak elaborated on India’s need to withstand the added pressure, “The amount of cricket we play, we have to withstand that pressure.”
Also read: Abhishek Sharma thrown under the bus!! Indian coach blames him, then hides behind ‘stomach problem’
