Atreyo Mukhopadhyay in Bengaluru
Instead of a disgraceful defeat, which was looming at one point of the first Test, the Indian team heads for the second heads held high. Monumental humiliation was on the cards after they got bundled out for 46 and New Zealand took a lead of 356 runs. From there to raise hopes of a miraculous win before eventually losing was a creditable performance.
Chances are high that opponents will remember this resilient team instead of the one that surrendered in testing conditions on the first day in Bengaluru. In Pune, in the second Test, the side that will come out to square the series will be confident that it can challenge the gravest of adversities with a positive mindset and plenty of killer instinct.
“There are a lot of good things that happened,” said Rohit Sharma after New Zealand posted an eight-wicket win. “It was three-four hours of bad cricket. Keeping in mind that a lot of cricket is coming up, I’m not going to look too much into this Test. Three hours is not going to define what this team is. It will be unfair for us to think about those three hours and judging players.”
In 2017, India lost to Australia in the first Test and won the four-match series 2-1. Earlier this year, England beat them in the opening Test before the hosts scripted a 4-1 win. Looking back, there are plenty of positives for Rohit and his team. The comeback in the second innings orchestrated by Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant is working as the boost. From nowhere, they suddenly put India in a commanding position for a while.
“We want to have that consistent mindset of trying to find a way to win Test matches,” said the skipper. “Even if you are behind in the game, you have to find a way by putting the bowler under pressure or putting the batters under pressure. It’s about keeping calm and not to send panic messages. It’s important that we stay strong and see how we can nail the second game.”
This is perhaps the difference between others and this team which reached the World Test Championship final on both previous occasions. They propagate a brand of cricket that is unique in conceptualisation and execution. It requires special skills and a different bent of mind. Challenging the impossible while staring at disaster in the first Test was proof of this psychology.
Not many teams would have thought of the unthinkable and gone for a win. Most would have thrown in the towel after the first innings. India not only went for it, but looked like pulling it off. This will make their opponents wary. They will know that no matter how cornered the Indians are, they are always capable of hitting back.
“We have lost matches before and we have come back after that,” said Rohit. “We’ll try not to think too much about this Test and see how we have to play in the next two matches. What we have to do to defeat them (New Zealand). That is the mindset, the talk and the approach of this team. I can say again and again, that this team is not going to give in easily.”
Some bravado there, but Rohit’s team has earned the right for such posturing. There is a lot of fire in the belly and there are resources to fuel that. One can be sure that the cricket will be exciting in the remaining two Tests, and India will do everything to win. New Zealand have learnt that. Even after winning the first Test, they will know that there is no reason to let the guard down.
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