That 3 hours is not going to dictate what this team is

Team India skipper Rohit Sharma remained unfazed despite the shocking eight-wicket defeat to New Zealand in the opening Test of the three-match series in Bengaluru. The hosts were shot out for the lowest-ever team total of 46 in India during their first innings after winning the toss and batting first.

While they fought back valiantly by scoring 462 in the second innings, conceding a massive 356-run first-innings lead proved fatal for Rohit and his men.

At the post-match press conference, Rohit reaffirmed that one poor session to start the Test match should not define the side.

“Even here, there are a lot of good things that happened along with 3-4 hours of bad cricket. So, keeping a lot of cricket in mind that is coming up, I am not going to look too much into this Test match. That 3 hours is not going to dictate what this team is. It would be very unfair to think about those three hours and start judging players and talking slightly differently,” said Rohit.

He added:

“Looking forward to the second Test in Pune, we know exactly what we need to do and where we lie as a team. It’s about keeping a calm atmosphere and not sending panic messages. It’s important we stay strong and try and see how we can nail the second game. All in all, I thought except that first couple of hours, three hours, I thought we played very good Test cricket.”

The sensational win was only New Zealand’s third in Tests on Indian soil and the first since 1988.

“Honestly, there are a lot of good things that happened to us in this Test match” – Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma stated that the side had much to be proud of with their second innings fightback despite the opening Test defeat to New Zealand.

Four of India’s top five scored 50+ in their second innings with Sarfaraz Khan leading the way, scoring a magnificent 195-ball 150. However, India suffered a terminal collapse against the second new ball, losing the final seven wickets for 54 runs to set New Zealand only a target of 107.

“I think it’s important to keep a consistent message, which is to try and make a way back into the game whenever we are under pressure. We really found a way to fight back, of course, we lost a Test match. That’s why it won’t make sense about what I am saying. Honestly, there are a lot of good things that happened to us in this Test match. I am proud of everyone to go out there and play like that and show that attitude,” said Rohit.

He concluded:

“See, every time we play the first Test of a series, we don’t go in with ht mindset of playing casual cricket. It just happens to be that we lost against England. We came close and just lost by 20 runs there.”

Team India lost the opening Test to England in the home series earlier this year but rebounded to win the next four and pull off a 4-1 victory.

Rohit Sharma’s Men will look to replicate those heroics when the second New Zealand starts in Pune on October 24.