Indian batsmen should know how to leave delivers: Manoj Prabhakar

The Indian team has already conceded the Test series against South Africa. The Men in Blue currently trail 2-0 in the three-match series after consecutive losses in Cape Town and Centurion. The upcoming third Test will be a sheer test of India’s tenacity and the ability to perform in the rainbow nation.

After the culmination of red-ball format, the teams will lock horns in the limited-overs leg. Thus it is extremely crucial for the Virat Kohli-led side to succeed in the dead-rubber fixture and end on a winning note. Speaking on the same lines, former India all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar opined that the struggling tourists need to bat and bowl well in the first 20 overs of an innings if they are to win in South Africa.

Prabhakar, a regular in the Indian side in the early 1990s and opened the bowling as well as batting at different times, also stressed on the art of judging the ball which the Indians have failed at. The trick is to read the length of the ball and then you can leave it since the pitches offer a lot of bounce.

Defence is the best offence

Talking to reporters Prabhakar said, “We cannot win in South Africa if we don’t know how to bat and ball in the first 20 overs in South Africa. The main thing is, you should know how to leave the ball if you are a compulsory hooker. If you cannot avoid upcoming deliveries, you cannot survive. Defence is the best offence. You should know how to leave. I was also an opener. When I can survive, why can’t they survive.”

He added, “We don’t know how to leave the ball. Our players, even in Ranji Trophy, only know how to hit the ball. I have seen the whole season. Nobody knew how to play the short ball.”

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