Virat Kohli's Five-Bowler Theory Not a Permament Solution: Ravi Shastri

Virat Kohli, since taking over as India's Test captain, has stressed upon the five-bowler, six-batsmen theory with the focus being on picking 20 wickets to put pressure on the opponent. Indian team director Ravi Shastri, however, says this theory is not a permament solution to all the problems of the Indian Test side and is likely to change. (Ravi Shastri lauds MS Dhoni)

"No, it (five-bowler theory) is not a permanent strategy. You have to respect the conditions. In this game of cricket you cannot go in and say that I am going to go with this team. It will backfire on you if the conditions are totally different," Shastri said, at a press conference at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. (Indian spinners ready for the Proteas)

"So, you might need six batsmen, you might need four and a half bowlers, you might need just a bowler to do the job to give the main bowlers a rest. You have to play according to the conditions and play to the opposition. It is important to study the opposition you are up against and then decide what should be the best combination of your team." (India need to start well against South Africa: Binny)

Shastri, who will be with the Indian team until the 2016 World T20, says the support staff of Indian team is more assured and dedicated now, after their contract was extended till March next year.

"Absolutely. Take your job. If your boss tells you 'You are here for just a month, and after a month I will decide if you carry on with your job', how will you feel? Very simple." Shastri said. Along with Shastri, assistant coaches Bharat Arun (bowling), R Sridhar (fielding) and Sanjay Bangar (batting) had their contracts renewed on a series-by-series basis before it was extended until the end of World Twenty20.

South Africa a formidable side

Shastri reiterated that the South Africans who are coming to tour India are still a formidable side despite recent retirements of senior players.

"It is like asking me about Indian team without (Sachin) Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Anil Kumble - players will come and go, but you got to respect the fact that Soth Africa are the world number one side," Shastri said.

"South Africa are a stiff opposition. They play well in overseas conditions better than any other side in world cricket. They travelled better than any other team and records will show that. And so we what we are up against. The respect is there but we will not take any backward steps."

South Africa are coming to India for a two-and-half-month long tour which begins with a limited overs series. The series beins with a Twenty20 International at Dharamsala on October 2.

The former India all-rounder brushed aside any talk of Mahendra Singh Dhoni's possible rustiness to lead the side in the limited over matches. India last played an ODI in June in Bangladesh and Dhoni, who has retired from Tests, led the side.

Ravi Shastri stated that no one will come close to MS Dhoni's record in ODIs.

© AFP

Mahendra Singh Dhoni - all time great

"No problem at all. You are talking about a season campaigner, one of the legends, one of the all-time greats in world cricket and not only of Indian cricket, you know I am saying as a captain. He (Dhoni) takes over a job he has been doing and so it is nothing new," Shastri said.

"Everything fits into place automatically. For the team there is no difference, they played under him in the World Cup. The last time they played an ODI, they played under MS in Bangladesh. What is the difference, they are playing under a champion. What else do you want!" he said.

When asked about Dhoni's batting position, Shastri said the captain himself will take a call on it.

"He has done the dirty work for donkey's years. Give him a chance to enjoy himself. You are talking of probably the greatest ODI captains and players. Don't worry about MS he will decide on the day whether to bat up the order," he said.

Shastri said no batsman in the team was in a comfort zone and they should be prepared to bat in any position. "Nobody is in a comfort zone. As a batsman in the top order you should be prepared to bat anywhere as the team demands. Now these were unforeseen circumstances, otherwise they would not have to do it... like we had to face when Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan both were injured," said Shastri.

He added that the most successful series for him during his tenure so far was the tour of Australia. "For me, the most successful tour was that of Australia. I keep saying this, the result was 0-2 down. Then we had a great World Cup, but lessons learnt in that tour was hard lessons. Those lessons have been put into practice, which I am really heartened by because it's a young team, the players are passionate, they want to learn. They don't want to rest on their laurels and they want to be consistent," he said.

Meeting with Rahul Dravid

The Team Director also said that bench strength of the senior side was very good with the players in the India A team doing well. "It (bench strength) is very good. I am going to have a chat with Rahul Dravid (India A coach)) sometime today to find out because he is in the best position to know who are the guys who can come through the ranks. The fact that the amount of cricket Rahul has played, he would know quickly know who would be the bloke who could bridge the gap and make the grade (to senior India side)," he said.

Shastri said he had taken up the team director's assignment as a challenge. "Every assignment for me has been a big one, in the last one year. You take it one series at a time, there is no small series in world cricket today, it's just that the teams change. The work ethics, what you put into place to win a game, all that has to be done in the same way as you do with any other team. So, nothing changes," he said.

"I take it as a challenge. It is a responsibility, it is a challenge which I have never backed away from in anything I have done in life. So, this is no exception. It is a brilliant young team. You have seen the performances over the last year, I don't have to say, you can judge in all formats of the game. And the endeavour will be to keep that consistency going over the next eight-nine months till we are in charge."