New Delhi, Oct 15: India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, has emphasized the importance of match practice over skill-based training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for Test specialists preparing for the upcoming series against South Africa. Gambhir believes that participating in the Ranji Trophy provides invaluable game time that cannot be replicated in training sessions.With the T20 series against Australia concluding on November 9 and the first Test against South Africa commencing on November 14 in Kolkata, Gambhir acknowledges the tight turnaround. However, he maintains that playing domestic cricket is crucial for players who are part of the Test squad but not involved in the white-ball series. He pointed to the successful preparation of players like KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel, and Devdutt Padikkal, who participated in India A games against Australia A and England Lions as part of their buildup to the West Indies series.
Among those expected to feature in the upcoming Ranji Trophy rounds are Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant—who is returning from injury—Narayan Jagadeesan, and KL Rahul. Gambhir emphasized that this approach aligns with the team’s preparation strategy and has yielded positive results in the past.
The head coach’s directive underscores a shift towards prioritizing competitive domestic cricket over centralized training camps, aiming to ensure players are match-ready for the challenges posed by the South African team.
As the Indian team gears up for the Test series, the integration of Ranji Trophy matches into their preparation is expected to enhance their readiness and performance on the international stage.