India’s recent 2-0 whitewash against Bangladesh at home might have been expected, but the sheer dominance displayed by Rohit Sharma’s side turned it into a memorable chapter in Indian cricket. While the 280-run victory in the first Test in Chennai was noteworthy, the second Test in Kanpur was even more remarkable. India not only won but wrapped up the match in just two-and-a-half days, showcasing their ruthlessness and hunger for results.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma, in a candid conversation, credited head coach Gautam Gambhir and the coaching staff for fostering a mindset focused on urgency and decisive action. Rohit revealed that the team was willing to take calculated risks to push for victory. He acknowledged that while such a strategy could have backfired, the team’s belief and bravery paid off.
“The bowlers set the tone, getting the crucial wickets we needed,” Rohit Sharma said. “When we came in to bat, we knew we had to take some risks to get the result. The outcome could have gone either way, but I was okay with that, as were the coach and the players. You have to be brave to make those decisions, and when it works, everything looks great. But when it doesn’t, the criticism follows. What mattered to us was the belief inside the dressing room, and that’s what we went with in this game.”
ALSO READ: Harbhajan Singh Reflects On Virat Kohli’s Leadership: Impact, Fire, and Legacy
Rohit Sharma, who boasts an impressive win percentage of 66.67% as Test skipper, didn’t want his team’s efforts to go unnoticed.
He added, “We had a clear plan—we wanted a result, and everyone started finding answers for how to achieve that. It was an exceptional series, and while it may fly under the radar, it was a big statement for us.”
One of the standout moments in the second Test came when Rohit Sharma himself pulled off a stunning one-handed catch at mid-off to dismiss Litton Das. Praising the slip cordon’s sharp reflexes, Rohit highlighted the hard work of fielding coach T. Dilip.
He explained, “Catching in the slips in India is no easy task, especially with how close we stand due to the conditions. It might look easy on TV, but trust me, it’s not. The guys have put in a lot of effort, and Dilip has been a key part of that. Those catches turned the game around.”
ALSO READ: Prithvi Shaw’s Quickfire Fifty Propels Mumbai’s Lead In Irani Cup 2024
India’s fielding was exceptional throughout the series, holding onto 23 of the 24 chances that came their way. This statistic alone is a testament to the significant improvement in the team’s fielding standards under Gambhir’s guidance.
