The 'A' team responded well after starting with a defeat...
There were a number of experienced players who have played for India. Everybody selected in the team proved their worth.
As captain, did you find it necessary to give pep talks?
The seniors knew their responsibilities so there was no question of giving any motivational talk to them. I told the newcomers that they had been selected for India A because they had done well in domestic cricket. I told them if they performed well, it would help them further their careers.
You captained a side containing the likes of Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma...
I've captained India A before in the West Indies, when Rohit was in the team. It's a responsibility I enjoy. I can take a stand and lead from the front. I'm generally a very calm person and that is a quality people think a captain should have. I like thinking about the game, keeping myself involved. As far as the future is concerned, I don't look too far ahead and just try to do the job entrusted to me.
Duncan Fletcher accompanying the squad must have been a motivating factor...
It was a good decision taken by BCCI. Fletcher is very helpful. He goes to each and every player and gives necessary advice. Even if you are scoring runs, he'll come and tell you if you are doing something wrong. Whether you take it or leave it is up to you, but he will point out your mistakes, which I think is very important for one's improvement.
Your ODI debut wasn't a very memorable one...
Things didn't go the way I would have liked. I got a start in the first match but couldn't carry on and in the second, I got a very good ball early on. I hope I get more opportunities to prove that I am good in ODIs too. I haven't got enough opportunities to prove I can play all forms of cricket. Before I made my Test debut people said that I was not good enough because I had scored runs in the Ranji Trophy on flat Rajkot wickets. But when I got the opportunity to play Tests, I showed I could play the highest form of cricket well. I'm sure the same thing will happen in ODIs too, if I get enough opportunities.
In the second 'Test' you opened the innings and Ajinkya Rahane came in at No. 3 after Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan were rested. Does this have long-term implications?
No. We just wanted to give Dhawan some rest as he was playing too much cricket. I've opened before in Indian conditions. At times when a wicket has fallen early, I've come in to bat in the first or second over. We decided I would open and Rahane would bat at No. 3. I've done pretty well for India coming in to bat at No. 3 so I would like to continue in that position. But if I need to open, I am ready.
The pitches provided for this tour seemed the opposite of what one generally sees in South Africa...
I don't think it was deliberate. It is winter in South Africa now and there is not enough grass on the pitches, so the strips are on the slower side. Also a lot of cricket was played during the season on these tracks. In the one-dayers the tracks were absolutely flat but in the first 'test' there was some assistance from the wicket for the quicks. That was enough for us to learn what kind of conditions we can expect when the Indian team tours SA.
Does Indian cricket have good depth, considering the A team is doing so well, along with the U-23 and U-19 boys?
The youngsters are doing well in the T20 and ODI formats but they should get more opportunity at the first-class level, like in the Ranji Trophy. The Indian domestic circuit is well structured to develop this habit. Only then will India get a good Test team. Now we are No. 1 in ODIs and T20 but to be the No. 1 cricket-playing nation, you want to be the best in all formats. For that to happen, these youngsters have to go through the grind of domestic cricket.
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