Series against SA, a great exposure before 2016 World T20: Ravi Shastri

Team Director of India says boys 'may have lost the series' but he treats it as 'great exposure in the lead-up to the World Twenty20'; reminds that it was 'still work in progress' for the team

Kolkata: Ravi Shastri would rather see the outing than the outcome at this stage. “This was great exposure for the team,” India’s team director declared, even as yesterday’s final T20 match was washed away at the Eden to leave South Africa 2-0 winners of the series.

Also Read: 3rd T20I: South Africa win series 2-0 as Eden Gardens match abandoned due to rain

Indian fans are dejected after the match was abandoned due wet weather at Eden Gardens in Kolkata yesterday. PIC/AFP

“We may have lost the series but I treat it as great exposure in the lead-up to the World Twenty20,” he added, reminding that it was “still work in progress” for Team India. “The first one was close and we were outplayed in the second. We have played very little T20 cricket in bilateral series; it’s a young side and we’re still figuring out the best combination,” he said,
buttressing his view.

“And there’s no better preparation than playing a team like South Africa, who play more T20 than any other team in the world,” he added.

Disappointed
“It was just the one game really, in Cuttack, where we could have played much better but did not show up. The boys are also disappointed and we would have liked to have a full game here. I’m as disappointed with the result as anybody, but it’s nothing that it will give me sleepless nights,” he reminded. “By the time the South Africans leave, we will be a much stronger team.”
He concedes that there will be changes to the composition of the team “in the six months that are left before the World T20”.

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