At the stumps of day two of the Hyderabad Test between India and Windies, Indian batting coach Sanjay Bangar felt the visitors were better than Rajkot Test as this time they set smart fields and bowled with a plan. Bangar also spoke about KL Rahul’s present batting problem.
After Windies were bundled out for 311 runs in the first innings, their bowlers fought hard against the Indian batsmen. But the unbroken 146-run partnership for the fifth-wicket helped the Indian team to score 308/4 at the end of the day.
After the day’s play, Banger said, “As compared to Rajkot, they put really smart fields and they’re bowling to a plan. There weren’t too many fielders in catching positions, even against spinners, so the batsmen had to work harder for their runs – the number of boundaries were lesser compared to Rajkot.”
“They bowled a better line. They made us work harder for the runs. It was a game of patience. They were waiting for us to commit mistakes, and the batsmen were waiting for loose balls.”
After the young opener Prithvi Shaw’s firing 70 off 53 balls and the skipper Virat Kohli’s 45-run knocks, the vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane (75*) and the wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant (85*) scored half-centuries and remained not out at the end of the day.
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As the two set batsmen were on the crease at the end of the day, Bangar believes it is a great opportunity for them to reach to the good position, if India played two more sessions.
Bangar said, “We’ve two set batsmen, and it’s very heartening to see the way Rishabh and Ajinkya have approached their innings. Both have been very patient and disciplined, and Ajinkya is also due a big score.
“If they get over that initial 30-35 overs – the new ball is due and the bowlers will be fresher – we have a very capable lower order. Ideally, if we can bat another two sessions, we’ll be in a great position.”
Another Indian opener KL Rahul is now really struggling to maintain his consistent batting form. After getting out for a duck in the previous Test at Rajkot, Rahul faced 25 balls on the day two of the ongoing second Test but scored only 4 runs before he was bowled by dragging the ball onto stumps on the Windies’ skipper Jason Holder’s delivery.
Talking about Rahul’s issue, Bangar said, “He’s had some issues with balls which have been coming into him. He’s working on it really hard, but what we feel is that at times the batsman, he thinks a lot about only the away-going balls. He forgets to concentrate on the straighter balls or those that pitch on the stump line.
“If these dismissals happen once he’s crossed 20 or 25, then it’s a more serious cause of concern. From my point of view, what’s more important is that he’s concentrating or expecting the balls to be pitching more on stump lines, and take it from there. The second road block is if he gets a start and he falters (after that), then it’s a cause of concern.”
