South African coach Russell Domingo had marked his team’s Group B game against India as the must-win before the Proteas set their feet in Australia. With a 3-0 win record against India in World Cups, Domingo hopes South Africa will continue their good run. The 40-year-old, who replaced Gary Kirsten as the full-time South Africa coach, spoke to the media during team’s practice session here on Thursday. Excerpts.
On if the unbeaten run against India held a psychological advantage: I am not sure. I haven’t really thought about it that way. We just really are focussing hard on our preparations this next week. I haven’t thought too much about whether we have got a psychological advantage over India or not. India are the current World champions and a wonderful one-day side. Whatever has happened in the past in previous World Cups will count for very little on Sunday.
On the importance of India game: Like I have always said over the last year, every game we play for South Africa is a big game and that’s the way we want to approach it. We know that there is always a lot of hype when India is in town. They have got massive support and some really big players in their side. But we are not seeing it as a high profile game. Every game we play for South Africa is a big game for us. We are treating it in pretty much the same way as we treat any other game playing for South Africa.
On if SA are being wary of any Indian player: We obviously know that Virat Kohli has been an outstanding player for India over the last couple of years and his record is phenomenal. He is obviously a kingpin in their batting line-up but we were just talking at dinner last night about guys like Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and (Ajinkya) Rahane has been in great form this summer. They have got a seriously good batting line-up. I don’t think the South African style is to target any one individual player, it is not the way we go about our stuff. It’s pretty much respecting the whole unit because you know that they have got match-winners right through their batting line-up.
