Conditions to determine playing XI, says Bangar

Dwelling on the Indian team composition on the eve of the first Test, the side’s batting coach Sanjay Bangar felt conditions would determine the line-up.

“If it’s a bowling-friendly track then we might go with four bowlers and if the conditions are perceived to be batting-friendly we might opt for five bowlers. So that’s been the case right through the last 24 months and I don’t think it will be anything different here.”

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Asked about the surface for the Test, Bangar replied, “As of now the conditions we found, we expect the ball to seam around a bit on day one. On days two and three, they are going to be very good batting conditions. We will take into consideration the extent of moisture on the surface tomorrow and we will take it from there.”

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Dhawan fit, Jadeja under observation

Bangar said opener Shikhar Dhawan had made a good recovery from his fitness concerns while left-arm spinning all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, down with viral fever, was under observation. “Shikhar has been cleared and declared fit and is available for selection. Jadeja is yet to recover. His condition is still being monitored.”

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Mental approach key to batting

On the Indian pace pack, Bangar said, “All of them have got enough experience under their belt. We have got Ishant Sharma who probably is having his third tour of South Africa and all the bowlers have been rotated really well taking into account the workloads.”

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Bangar said the mind played a crucial role for batsmen in Test match cricket. “What we really focus on is our own inward processes, how our mental approach is, how our mindset is in terms of batting rhythm. So the opposition doesn’t really matter nor do the conditions.”