India T20 team is a work in progress: Ravi Shastri

The final T20I may have been washed out but India team director Ravi Shastri felt that there was little that could be done. He also outlines the Indian T20 team's plan over the next few months among other topics in a press conference.

It's quite a long series that's coming up. How is the team looking at rebuilding ahead of the ODI and Test series?

You're right. It's a long season coming up. But I think, this has been a great exposure for the team. We might have lost the series, but I take it as great exposure in

the build up to the World Cup. Without giving any excuses, the first game was a very close one; the second we were outplayed, no question about that. But, the reason why I say it's great exposure is because, as Team India, we have played very, very little T20 cricket. It's a young team, and we're still trying to figure out how to go about it, what is the best combination and what't the best way forward. And there's no better preparation that playing a team like South Africa.

How disappointed are you with the team's performance in the series?

I would go down to one game. In Cuttack, we didn't play well... we didn't show up. Obviously, the boys are disappointed. We would have loved a third game, a full game here [Eden Gardens] but that didn't happen. But, there were a lot of things to learn. I'm disappointed with the result, because we played to win and win against the best in the world. But, it's nothing that it will give me sleepless nights, because it has taught me a lot as well.

Are you happy with the combination you have with the World Cup in mind?

It's a work in progress. There is still a long way to go. It's very good that a team like South Africa has come to India. They are one of the strongest team in the world, across formats. And, I think, by the time they leave, we will be a much better team. No matter what happens, we will be a much stronger side two months down the line, thanks to exposure and the tough competition the boys get.

How disappointed are you that this game did not take place?

To have an abandoned game at Eden Gardens is the most disappointing. Because of the crowd the comes in. But these are situations you cannot control. The umpires out there, they know what is best for both sides, they know there is an one-day series coming up and obviously they would have taken all that into account. Plus, they would have taken into account the crowd. Everybody would have wanted a match, but these incidents are unforeseen.

There are players like Shreyas Iyer, Mayank Agarwal etc who are waiting on the wings. Will the team look to them in the near future if there is a need for a change?

There is six months to go. Form will be crucial. There is plenty of ODI cricket. The whole of December I think there are one-day competitions that go on till January. Then there is some T20 cricket in Australia, then Sri Lanka come to India. Then there's an Asia Cup - so there's a lot of T20 cricket being played, and opprtunity for people to put their hat into the ring. It could be young or old - I think form will be crucial.

Do you believe that the outfield was truly unplayable?

See, I'll tell you one thing - The problem was there was no sunshine. So, when it got wet, you needed some baking sunshine. I'm telling you, even if this was a day game, it would have taken a long time to dry. What you saw was the square - that was fine, but twenty yards down that square, it was very very soft. I'm being honest about it - it was very soft, and the umpires, I think, took that into account. I mean, to call off a game, it must be serious.

Would you prefer India playing more T20 games?

See if all three formats have to survive, you'll have to strike the right balance. If you see the amount of bilateral cricket India has played in T20s, it is probably less than any other team in the world. The last time we played a T20 game was against England - which was a one-off game. It's not the Board's fault or anything - but there's so much cricket being played.

In Australia now, you have five one-dayers and three T20Is. Then you have a three-match series against Sri Lanka.

What do you take from here? Any weakness in the SA camp. Any positives you've seen in the Indian side?

Obviously, we have had a good look. We know what to expect from South Africa. But, in ODIs, we understand our game as well. We are a far more experienced side in the one-day format. And I see a really good contest between the two sides. It will be a very very good contest.

Do you think it was a collective failure on part of CAB that they couldn't get the ground ready in time?

I won't say it was a collective failure. As years go by, upgrading the ground will happen. All around the country, if you have to play at times when it could rain then, the drainage will have to be given importance to. The problem here in Kolkata is that it has seen a lot of rain. So the ground can only take that much rain. Whatever it rained in that one hour was so heavy, that it was sitting on the top. If you had had no rain, or if it was in the month of Febuary, then the water would have gone straight down. Where can the water go now? It's the rainy season and I thought the ground staff still did a great job. I think Prabir da [Prabir Mukherjee] should be complimented. Even the pitch looked very good.

Dhoni wants to bat up the order and even you said you want to unburden him. Is this a priority for Team India? To see Dhoni back at his hitting best?

That will be the endeavour, no question about that. We know what he can do when he starts striking it. Everyone knows that, I don't have to say anything.

Are you missing a second spinner?

There is a lot of cricket being played. So you have to use your bowlers sparingly and also see where you stand to gain the maximum profit, if they play. Where their value will be the most. And then you have share it around, because there is a heck of a lot of cricket. You have to take care of your bowlers as well.

Who will take up the No. 6 position if Dhoni goes up the order?

This is exactly why we are very keen to see the December month. All the ODI competitions happen then. The No. 6 position may have a different role on 50-over cricket, but an extremely important role in T20s. T20, you'll see a lot of sides that play well and win the World Cup, their No. 6 will be a crucial player. The whole December and January months, they will be watched closely.