Head coach Ravi Shastri backed the Indian team to bounce back strongly from the embarrassing ten-wicket loss in the first Test against New Zealand via a series-levelling victory in the second Test in Christchurch, beginning February 29.
Shastri reckons a jolt as bad as the one at the Basin Reserve is sometimes a blessing in disguise for it "opens up your mind" regarding things needed to be correct, especially for a team that has been winning so regularly in the last three-four years.
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"I always believe when you are on a run like we were, a shake-up like that (first Test) is good because it opens your mindset. When you are on the road winning all the time and you haven't tasted defeat, you can have a closed or fixed mindset," the former India all-rounder told reporters on the eve of the second Test.
"There are opportunities to learn. You know what strategies New Zealand are employing and now you are prepared, what to expect and you have your plans on how to counter that. It's a good lesson and I am sure the boys are up for the challenge."
The defeat last week was India's first since the beginning of this World Test Championship cycle after whitewashing West Indies away and South Africa, Bangladesh at home. "We've played eight games (2 vs West Indies, 3 vs South Africa, 2 vs Bangladesh and 1 vs New Zealand) and won seven. For one loss, there is absolutely no need to panic," Shastri said. "And neither is anyone looking in that direction in this team."
While off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin did do a reasonably good job with the ball in the first Test, the option of bringing back Ravindra Jadeja in the playing XI would still be considered with the left-arm spinner historically offering more control in a four-man bowling attack and currently more in form as a batsman than Ashwin.
"You will see how much of a role a spinner has, first of all. How many overs you think he is going to bowl in the game. Is there going to be something for him on day four or five? Will the second innings be that important?"
"Do you need him more in the first innings of a game? Is his batting going to count? Is his fielding going to count? Is his overall fitness going to count? Those are areas you look into," Shastri said.
The coach also explained the reason behind preferring Rishabh Pant as the team's first-choice wicketkeeper batsman in conditions abroad and leaving him out of the playing XI at home.
"We went for (Wriddhiman) Saha in India because there would be a lot of spin, and on turning tracks where bounce could be uneven, you need an experienced keeper and Saha is, to be honest, one of the best around."
"But when you come here, there is not much of spin bowling. Emphasis is on fast bowling and then the batting becomes a key factor," Shastri added. "Plus the fact that he (Pant) is a left-hander, and an aggressive batsman lower down the order. That tilted the scales in his favour here."
(Inputs from PTI)
