After the rains unleashed a damp climax to the third and final ODI between India and South Africa at the Super Sport Park here on Wednesday night, India’s Ishant Sharma and the Proteas skipper A.B. deVilliers and emerging star Quinton de Kock took stock of the proceedings. A potential conflict-zone was also averted as Ishant said de Kock has been ‘lucky’ and the centurion later quipped that perhaps what the Indian speedster said was ‘true.’
Excerpts from Sharma’s briefing:
The pitch : Initially there was bounce in the wicket and then it got a bit slow. Need to use variations in these kind of wickets because the pitch was a bit dry and need to use reverse swing in these conditions.
Mood in the camp : Last twelve months we have been achieving a lot so somewhere there was going to be a breakdown. It’s good for us in that sense and may be we can take a positive from this series and take that positive into the Test series.
His 100 wickets in ODIs : It’s all in your mind. If you are confident and most importantly the team believes in you, they give you the chance to play and perform and performing for the team is the most important thing.
Quinton de Kock’s runs : He has been quite lucky because ball is going between fielders and players dropping catches off him.
Excerpts from de Villiers briefing:
A series triumph : It is very important. (Have) mentioned few times that we are playing against the number one team so respect was there but we needed to play well in our home conditions to beat them.
The last game : We were very keen to get a result; we wanted to get some momentum. Shame it finished like that but happy with 2-0.
Excerpts from de Kock’s briefing :
The toughest ton in this series? Yeah. Was a wicket where you had to fight for the runs.
Test dreams : Anybody would like to be part of a Test squad. But things happen for a reason. So will go back to four-day cricket and bide my time.
Ishant’s barb : He was telling the truth. Did get a bit lucky, (was) dropped twice. Would like to go back to my bubble again.
