As the second Test between India and South Africa approaches in Cape Town, all eyes are on the Indian cricket team, led by Rohit Sharma, aiming to bounce back after a disappointing loss in the series opener. The first Test saw India succumb to an innings and 32-run defeat, prompting the need for a victory to level the series.
With India’s historical struggles in South Africa and their current position at number 6 in the World Test Championship points table, a win becomes crucial to bolster their chances of qualifying for the WTC final.
Reflecting on India’s first-innings deficit, Rohit Sharma addressed the media with candor, stating, “Agar aap peeche bhi rehte ho, aap Kitna peeche rehte hothat is important. We were almost 160 behind. In these kinds of wickets that is a lot. The total that we put up was good. 245 on that pitch.”
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Emphasizing the need for resilience, he added, “When they were stitching the stand, we wanted to let them go too far ahead. You always need to find a way into the game. We need to show application. We have seen in the past too that India we can do well after falling behind.”
A stunning view here at the Newlands Cricket Ground as #TeamIndia prepare for the 2nd Test match.#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/4NmEMp61Hv
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 1, 2024
In a broader context, Rohit Sharma emphasized the significance of preserving Test cricket, stressing that it is the collective responsibility of all Test-playing nations. Ahead of the series against England, he highlighted, “Test cricket is something that we have to protect and give importance to. It’s not the responsibility of one or two nations, it is the responsibility of all Test-playing countries to make sure that we keep it nice and entertaining.”
Acknowledging the competitiveness of Test cricket globally, Rohit expressed the need for collective efforts to maintain its health and competitiveness. Despite India’s top ranking in Tests and their recent appearances in the World Test Championship Finals, Rohit urged teams to contribute to the richness of the format.
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As speculation surrounds the playing XI for the second Test, with rumors of Prasidh Krishna making way for Mukesh Kumar, Rohit Sharma clarified, “We have not completely finalized our playing XI. All are available to play. We will sit down and decide.” Defending Prasidh Krishna, he noted the inexperience in the bowling department and expressed confidence in the young player’s abilities, reiterating his stance from the post-match press conference after the first Test.
The second Test between India and South Africa is set to unfold in Cape Town, promising another intriguing chapter in this series.
