SA's Indian insiders may play a key role

JOHANNESBURG: Prasanna Agoram, who knows the new crop of Indian players since their National Cricket Academy days, is now busy plotting their downfall as the performance analyst of the South African team. He began his career as a video analyst at the NCA and has footages of the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara from the early part of their careers.

"I was with the U-19 Indian team in the 2006 World Cup as well. I have got the batting details of these guys. I also closely monitor how these guys have been playing recently and identify their weaknesses. It's a lot of data that I have to deal with on the basis of the video footages that I have. We have done extensive work on every Indian batsman, including R Ashwin," Prasanna told TOI.

Interestingly, South Africa's support staff includes quite a few individuals who have an India connect. Prasanna apart, there is Gary Kirsten. South Africa's batting consultant was Team India's coach for nearly four years and mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton, too has worked with MS Dhoni's boys. "We are working in tandem to ensure a series victory for South Africa. I have always shared a great relationship with Gary. While I provide the data, he presents his inputs on the Indian players whom he knows like the back of his hand," Prasanna said.

Prasanna, who claimed to have identified the weaknesses of Indian batsmen, however, refused to share it with the media ahead of the Test series. "That's a trade secret. I can't tell you about it. You will see it for yourself as the series unfolds," Prasanna added.

He confirmed that Graeme Smith's weakness against Zaheer Khan, too, has been analyzed in detail by South Africa's coaching staff. "On the basis of the data that I have, the coaching staff, along with Graeme, closely reviewed where he has been going wrong. We believe Graeme has sorted it out and will make things difficult

for India."

Prasanna said initially he had found it difficult to adjust into the South African set-up when he joined them in 2010, but the players helped him to settle down. "I started in 2010. Initially it was like facing Dale Steyn in the middle. But once I earned the players' confidence, I very much felt part of the team. I have never felt that I don't have a South African passport."

Prasanna disclosed that he had been approached by the Chennai Super Kings to be their performance analyst in IPL-7, but has decided to join Delhi Daredevils instead. "I would prefer to work with Kirsten. That's why I didn't renew my contract with RCB or join CSK. I hope it will be a great IPL season for the Delhi Daredevils," he said.

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Shweta Pandey

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