India fielding coach R Sridhar and bowling coach Bharat Arun are banking on players’ experience as Covid-19 quarantine restrictions might hamper their preparations for World Test Championship final against New Zealand, starting June 18 in Southampton.
It remains unclear whether India will be allowed to train during their quarantine period upon arrival in the UK, given the restrictions due to second Covid-19 wave in India.
“I don’t think we have a choice.We would like to make the most of what we get because it all depends on how many days of hard or soft quarantine we are going to have, when we are going to land and if at all getting a practice game so I don’t think we have a choice,” Sridhar told the Press Trust of India.
Sridhar concedes that India might be a little under-prepared when compared to New Zealand who will have the luxury of playing 2 Tests against England in June before the WTC Final. However, the fielding coach explains how being under-prepared can sometimes help the team’s cause.
“It’s time to be mentally smart, we have a very experienced team going into going to the final. Each guy is capable of adapting to the situation. They have played against New Zealand and played in England. So, I think that experience will count and we will have to come to the fore, because we really can’t plan as to how many sessions we want because we only have to take what is given to us,” Sridhar said.
“…sometimes it can work in our favour as well, because that way you’re mentally more ready. It’s like playing with an injury sometimes when you’re injured, you tend to concentrate a little better.
“Sometimes when you’re a little under-prepared, you tend to focus more and maybe that will bring the best out of us as well, so that that is the kind of mindset we are going in with,” said Sridhar.
