Ind v NZ, 1st Test – Rohit Sharma – ‘Three hours of bad cricket won’t tell what this team is’

“I think it’s important to keep a consistent message to the team, that whenever we’re under pressure, we try to get into the game in any way we can – that’s what we’ve been talking about.

“And we really found a way to get back into the game with the bat in the second innings. Yes, we lost the Test match. That’s why I probably won’t be able to hear what I’m talking about. But I honestly feel like I’m there. There’s been a lot of good things that have happened in this game, so it’s about keeping calm spirit, not sending panic messages.

After conceding 356, India bounced back in the second innings with Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal providing a good start before Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan’s partnership took them ahead. And when Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz came together, India started dreaming of the unthinkable – victory.

Although that didn’t happen, Rohit was proud of India’s fightback.

“It was outstanding, especially being behind in the game, it’s easy to let the game go, but it’s not something for this team. This team wants to stay in the game for a long time and not give up. The opposition is that after one day [two]it is clear that there is nothing we can do. We got 46 and 190 [180] at 3 and for us the beginning of that second [third] the day was very important, so that he would not let them go too far.

“When the guys show that kind of mentality on the field with batting, it shows that the mind is clear, and the guys want to go out and play freely and try to see how we can get the pressure back. Objection. Overall, I thought, apart from the first few hours, three hours, I thought we played some very good cricket.

It was not just the number of runs that India made in their second innings but also the way they did it, they scored almost four runs in an over in their entire innings. When Sarfaraz and Pant were together, they added 177 runs for the fourth wicket in 211 balls. Sarfaraz hit 18 fours and three sixes in his 150, while Pant smashed nine fours and five sixes in his 99.

Rohit said that India will not change their aggressive attitude, regardless of whether they are ahead or behind.

“When we’re behind the game, that’s when you want to press your pedal even more, and try to make an impact, try to make the opposition doubt that we’re under pressure or behind the game. When you’re actually behind. behind, you want to try to do unusual things and play without fear. It’s one thing to talk about it, but we actually went out there and played fearless cricket.

“Some shots some of the guys playing in the middle knowing we’re behind 350 shows what we’ve been talking about and what they want to do out there. And it’s going to stay that way here.

“Even if we find ourselves in the lead in this game, we will not change our attitude. On the other hand, even if we are behind in the game, we will try to see how we can apply pressure. Some of the Test matches we have played recently show what I am talking about and it will be the same.

“We can’t be afraid of losing a Test match by changing our mindset. We want to have that consistent mindset of trying to find a way to win Test matches. Even though you’re behind in the game, you have to find a way how you’re playing. putting the bowler under pressure or putting the batsmen under pressure by doing things different.”

India entered with three spinners – R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja – in this Test but the move backfired because the three were not participating as usual. The key factor behind that was Ravindra, who scored 130 runs from 173 runs across two innings against spin at a strike rate of 100. Rohit accepted that he was the difference between the two teams.

“In the first innings, I thought whatever we could put out on the field, our spinners tried and did their best. But some of the shots played by Rachin were really good and he played very good cricket. He played well against the spinners, they challenged him but he has to you gave him honor.

“He understood what our spinners were trying to do and he didn’t shy away from playing his natural game, which is what gave him results against our quality spinners. Sometimes it happens there…not sometimes actually, there will be times when other batsmen who come to India will play well to our spinners.

“Whoever comes to India now, tries to put pressure on the bowlers by doing different things, different ways, but we know exactly what to do when a situation like this arises.