IND vs SA: ‘Bhaad Mein Gaya Pitch’, Shastri Praises Bowlers Over Tracks After India's Triumph

Shastri stated that the unit has always wanted to take the pitch out of the equation and build a crop of bowlers that was well-rounded in all conditions

India scripted history on Tuesday as they registered their maiden whitewash over South Africa in a Test series. Virat Kohli & Co defeated the Proteas by an innings and 202 runs in the Ranchi Test to clinch the rubber 3-0. Head coach Ravi Shastri looked extremely elated on this emphatic victory. He stated that they always wanted to take the pitch out of the equation and build a crop of bowlers that was well-rounded in all conditions. “Our motto was to take pitches out of the equation. ‘Bhaad me gaya pitch’ (to hell with the pitches). Whether it’s Johannesburg or Melbourne or Mumbai, we want to take the pitch out of the equation,” Shastri said in a post-match interview. “With the batting line-up we have, if they post big totals and then we have bowlers who can take 20 wickets - we can keep taking those world championship points we’re after. Rahane was never going to go anywhere, he had to rediscover his touch which he’s done,” he added. Shastri also heaped praises on Rohit Sharma who perfectly dealt with his new responsibilities. The head coach stated that the HITMAN was in a different league altogether. “As an opener, your mindset has to be different. Rohit worked his way out of it, but he kept thinking he had to work hard and cash in when the pitch gets better. That’s what happened. Normally in India, you have two players who hog the limelight. Here we’ve had six or seven payers,” he further added. Needing just two wickets to maintain their supremacy on Day 4, the Indian team completed the formalities within the first 12 balls giving away just one run and concluded what has been a highly dominant show by the No.1 ranked team over South Africa.