Despite the setbacks on the ongoing tour of Sri Lanka team director Ravi Shastri insists there will be no let up in India’s approach as they look to “play fearless cricket” in the remaining two matches of the three-Test series.
India suffered a shocking 63-run defeat in the first Test despite gaining a 192-run lead and if that wasn’t enough they were dealt another blow Monday when Galle centurion Shikhar Dhawan was ruled out of the series with a hand injury.
![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsport360.com%2Farticle%2Fcricket%2Finternational-cricket%2F40983%2Fravi-shastri-says-indias-fearless-approach-will-not-change-second-test%2F&media=%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Farticles7%2Fmedia-40983.jpg&description=Ravi Shastri says India's "fearless" approach will "Pinterest")
What say #RaviShastri and @BCCI – but next time can u mr Shastri wear a shirt as representative of bcci for interview pic.twitter.com/k2cslC3yXg
— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) August 17, 2015
“We won’t change our style of play. Mindsets will remain the same, exactly like how it was in the first Test match. But to close the deal, you have to walk the distance till the end. We made that one mistake in the end (in the first Test),” said Shastri.
“The mindset was very clear that you have to go out with intent. But the endeavour of this cricket team would be to play fearless cricket.
“These boys have enough talent, I am sure they must have thought after the match why I didn’t play this shot, why I didn’t play in this manner. It was not a question of buckling under pressure. They sensed the pitch could deteriorate. The pressure was brought on. My general feeling is that if they can get one (victory) on the board it will be the start of many.”
Kohli’s handling of three spinners and bowling changes which allowed the Sri Lankan batsmen to break the shackles at Galle have come under criticism but Shastri defended his captain and was confident he will learn from it.
– INTERVIEW: Anwar Ali on plotting a permanent Pakistan place
– FEATURE: How Bangladesh are building to take on cricket’s elite
– Viv Richards – Clarke should not be remembered for Ashes loss
– #360stats: A history of the Test rivalry between Sri Lanka and India
“Kohli will learn. The more you play, the more you learn. It is not often that India play with three spinners. (Ravichandran) Ashwin was brilliant throughout the match but you needed others also,” added Shastri.
The inclusion of all-rounder Stuart Binny to the squad was keeping in with the pace friendly conditions expected in the remaining two Tests revealed Shastri.
“With this Indian team, with this kind of bowling attack, I think an allrounder is a must,” he said. “He is a genuine all-rounder. We can use him depending on the conditions that are on offer for the next two Test matches. Stuart is coming off a brilliant performance in the tour of Zimbabwe. Whenever he has got an opportunity, he has done a pretty decent job.”
