“There was a huge lack of experience in this team” - Ex-Indian spinner slams Team India on 30-run loss to SA in 1st Test

Former Indian spinner Amit Mishra has opened up on India’s 30-run defeat to South Africa in the first Test of the ongoing two-match series at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, as Men In Blue started the series on a worrying note.

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Speaking exclusively to IANS, Mishra asserted that there was a huge lack of experience in the current Indian Test team as they failed to create an impact on how to bat on a spin track, adding that the Indian support staff needs to have proper communication with the batting line-up.

"I feel there was a lack of communication and we had to tell the players how to bat on a wicket like that. I mean, we have to guide them well. There were a few young players as well and I think there was a huge lack of experience in this team. So because of that lack of experience, you have to talk to the players. I think that was the biggest reason because a huge thing for a young player is that there is a lot of rush of blood while batting. So you have to talk to them and guide them well," Mishra said in an exclusive conversation with IANS.

Speaking about the uneven bounce from the first day of the Kolkata Test, Mishra reckoned that it’s not about the surface, but it’s completely about how the Indian batters improve their skill of batting on such wickets at home.

"See, this is not the first time and it hasn't really happened before that wickets like this were dished out under previous captains and games got over in two-three days. I don't think it's the pitch - it's the problem more of skill. Like, you have to improve your skill. When we go to play in England, you have to play against swing and counter-moisture. As per that, one has to enhance their skill and mind,” he added.

"So I don't think this is the first time we have got such a wicket in India, as we have got such surfaces for many years. Sometimes we get better wickets than this to play on. But mostly, this is not the first time - you have to improve your skill and mind according to the wicket. You have to look at how to bat and see the strategies you have to use for playing on such wickets. In all, you have to improve your batting line-up,” he concluded.

India will next take on South Africa in the second and final Test of the two-match series, starting on Saturday, November 22, in Guwahati.

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