Sipu Jha
Team India Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate admitted on Friday that they are carrying a sense of desperation into the series-deciding third ODI against South Africa after a disappointing Test tour and a mixed start to the one-day leg. India were swept 2-0 in the preceding Test series, and the ODI contest now stands evenly poised at 1-1. Speaking on the eve of the final match in Vizag, ten Doeschate said the players fully understand the weight of responsibility they carry, even though the limited-overs squad features different personnel.
KL Rahul’s team opened the series with a 17-run victory in Ranchi, but South Africa levelled things with a four-wicket win in Raipur. “When results start going against you and performances fall below our standards, there is naturally a bit of desperation from a series perspective,” ten Doeschate said. “But the group is used to operating under pressure. It never really leaves this team. A bilateral decider brings its own pressure and we try to focus on our processes, work out what a good score is, and let the batting group chase that target.” The former Netherlands all-rounder also pointed out that dew has had a major say in the first two ODIs and could once again be a defining factor on Saturday. He noted that while India have improved their defence when bowling second, adjusting to the conditions remains crucial. “The dew is huge here. It’s not something we can control, but it’s on us to adapt. This is a high-scoring ground with small boundaries, and the real challenge is managing the difference between batting first and chasing,” he said. Asked whether the 1.30 pm start could reduce the dew’s influence, ten Doeschate agreed that the idea had merit but conceded that broadcast requirements leave little room for change. He added that India have already attempted to prepare for heavier scoring demands during training, especially given how quickly totals escalate once the ball gets wet. “In the first game we revised our thinking from 320 to around 350. Even with the ball coming on nicely, getting to that score took a big effort,” he said. “You always want more runs. We have spoken a lot about how to maximise totals, even when conditions don’t make it easy. The responsibility is to find solutions.”
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