Bengaluru. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma is confident that his team will bounce back from the eight-wicket defeat against New Zealand in the opening Test by winning the next two games, just like it won four on the trot against England earlier this year.
India paid the price for getting all out for 46 in the first innings, their lowest-ever total at home, despite special efforts from Sarfaraz Khan (150) and Rishabh Pant (99) in the second essay.
Rachin Ravindra was regal in both innings as he nullified India’s ace spinners with ease.
“Games like these happen. We will move forward. We lost a game against England and won four games after that. We know exactly what is needed from each one of us,” Rohit said at the post-match presentation ceremony here on Sunday. He had been upfront in admitting that he read the conditions wrong but having said that, he never thought India would be bowled out for 46.
“I said in my press conference that we knew it would be sticky early on but we didn’t expect to be out for 46. New Zealand bowled well and we failed to respond to that,” Rohit said.
For the skipper, the silver lining was Sarfaraz and Pant’s approach in the second innings where India scored 462 to set a target of 107. “It was a good effort with the bat in the second innings. We didn’t bat well in the first innings. So we knew what was ahead and a couple of guys stood out.
“When you are 350 behind you can’t think too much about it, just got to see the ball and bat. A couple of partnerships were really exciting to watch. We could have easily been bowled out cheaply but proud of the effort.” He was only in the manner they know.
“Everyone is on the edge of their seat when those two bat. Rishabh left a few balls and he played shots. Sarfaraz showed great maturity as well.”
Practicing on red and black soil in Chennai helped
Rachin Ravindra is a Chennai Super ‘King’ and no wonder the city gave him ample opportunity to bat on red and black soil tracks to prepare for Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
Ravindra’s superb 134 off 157 in the first innings was largely responsible for New Zealand enjoying a 350-run lead and then he scored 39 not out in a tricky chase to earn the Player of the Match award.
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