“The‌ ‌players‌ ‌are‌ ‌in‌ ‌good‌ ‌space,”‌ ‌asserts‌ ‌India‌ ‌fielding‌ ‌coach‌ ‌R‌ ‌Sridhar‌ ‌after‌ ‌washout‌ ‌on‌ ‌Day‌ ‌1‌ ‌of‌ ‌ WTC‌ ‌final‌

Tags: ICC World Test Championship Final 2021, India vs New Zealand, Final at Southampton, Jun 18-22, 2021, India, New Zealand, fielding‌ ‌coach‌

Published on: Jun 18, 2021

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“The players are in good space,” asserts India fielding coach R Sridhar after washout on Day 1 of WTC final

Asked how players motivate themselves during such times, when they have to stay off the field for an elongated period of time, Sridhar told ANI, "That's a good question. As far as the first part of your question, as motivation goes, I don't think you need to motivate anyone who's representing their country. And, in a World Test Championship final, I think there is no further and better motivation than that. Yes, to keep them in good mental space, that is something which is very important."

"They are going to be on and off the field with the weather, so they will have to know how to keep their concentration going, switching on, switching down, switching off, so that is something all the players are aware of. They are a very, very experienced bunch of players. They have played a few finals, they have won a few tournaments and they've played a few test matches, each one of them in that eleven. So yeah, they all know how to do it, and they are in a delicate frame of mind as of now. They are in good space," he added.

Earlier in the day, India legend Sunil Gavaskar advised the team to alter the playing XI and bring in an extra batsman due to the overcast conditions in Southampton. India have picked two spinners - Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja - for the WTC final, with Rishabh Pant slated to bat at number six.

Asked whether Team India are thinking on similar lines, Sridhar responded, "I was expecting this to be the first question. The eleven that has been announced is eleven that takes conditions out of the equation. I think it's the eleven that can play and perform on any given surface and any given weather conditions. This eleven that has been put on the park. If need be, a decision will be taken."

Although the first day of the WTC final was washed out, there is no certainty that the Reserve Day will be used. As per rules, only 2.5 hours can be made up over the course of the five days of a Test match. As per ANI, a call on the Reserve Day will be taken by the match officials on Day 5 of the Test.

Although the first day of the WTC final was washed out, there is no certainty that the Reserve Day will be used. As per rules, only 2.5 hours can be made up over the course of the five days of a Test match. As per ANI, a call on the Reserve Day will be taken by the match officials on Day 5 of the Test.

--By A Cricket Correspondent

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