After losing the Test series opener to New Zealand by eight wickets at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, India skipper Rohit Sharma vowed his team are ready to give it their all to win the next two matches.
“Games like these happen. We will take the positives and move forward. There are guys who have been in this situation before. We lost a game against England and won four games after that. Two Test matches to go and we know exactly what is needed from each one of us. We will try and put our best game forward,” said Rohit Sharma said at the post-match interview.
On day two of the game, after the opening day was washed out due to rain, India were shot out for 46 — their third-lowest Test score overall and the fewest they ever posted in a Test match at home. Under overcast skies, India were undone by grand exhibition of seam bowling from Matt Henry (5/15) and Will O’Rourke (4/22), which eventually played a big part in them losing the match.
Though India made 426 in the second innings, thanks to a counter-attacking 177-run stand for the fourth wicket between Sarfaraz Khan (150) and Rishabh Pant (99), Rohit remarked he was proud of how the two young batters played.
“It was a good effort in the second innings with the bat. We knew what lies ahead, get as many as possible. A couple of guys stood out, was great to watch. When you’re 350 behind, you can’t think too much. Just have to try and bat the ball and see where the game goes. Was exciting to watch partnerships get us into the game.
“We could’ve easily been bowled under 350, it’s something we’re proud of. Everyone’s on the edge of their seats when Pant and Sarfaraz bat. Pant’s was a mature innings; he’s done it for a while, and he played his shots too. Sarfaraz was very clear and mature in just his third or fourth Test.”
India, now 1-0 behind in the three-match series, will now travel to Pune to play the second Test against New Zealand from October 24-28, followed by the third and final game of the series at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai from November 1-5.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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