Was lack of practice matches the reason behind Team India's loss in the first Test against South Africa? India captain Rohit Sharma doesn't think playing First Class practice Tests would have given the team any benefit because of the 'contrasting difference' in the two situations.
After India lost the opening Test to South Africa by an innings and 32 runs, Rohit was asked in the press conference about the team's decision to snub practice matches over intra-squad contests.
Rohit highlighted the nature of wickets and the opponent team's players in the practice matches as the reason behind the team's decision to play intra-squad matches instead.
The India skipper claimed that the wickets the team gets in practice matches don't produce the sort of bounce and pace the actual match pitches do. "We have been playing practice matches in the last 4-5 years.