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Ind vs Ban, 2nd Test: Rohit Sharma says India is ready to combine for a low total to force a result

Rohit Sharma said India were willing to risk being bowled out for a low score in the first innings to get a result on a pitch that “didn't have much to offer the bowlers”. There was no action on the second and third days of the Kanpur Test due to drizzle and wet outfield respectively.

But thanks to clear weather on the final two days of the Test, India first dismissed Bangladesh for 233 in the first innings – taking the final seven wickets for just 121 runs – and then declared another at 285 for 9 in just 34.4 overs Take action against the opposition in the final moments of the day.

“We had to think a lot about how the game can continue when we lost for two-and-a-half days,” Rohit said after India registered a seven-wicket win on the fifth day. “Coming into the fourth day we thought, OK, let's try to get them out as quickly as possible and then see what we can do with the bat. When they were at 230 we said it wasn't about the runs we got, but it was about the overs we wanted to throw at them. This meant we had to try and increase the run rate and score as many points as possible because the pitch didn't have much to offer for the bowlers.

While Rohit himself got off to a blistering start, scoring 23 off just 11 balls, including the first two balls he faced for consecutive sixes, Yashasvi Jaiswal also brought his T20 game to the fore. He scored a 51-ball 72 in the first innings and a 45-ball 51 in the second, becoming the first Indian to reach fifties in both innings of a Test in less than 50 balls.

“To make a game out of that pitch was a super effort from the bowlers and then the batters had to embrace the idea of ​​getting the runs as quickly as possible,” Rohit said. “We were willing to take that risk because if you try to bat that way, it's very easy to get thrown out even for a low score. But we were also prepared for that factor, even that. “If we give it our all at 100-150, we wanted to give ourselves a chance to be in the game and try to get a result.”

R Ashwin, who was named player of the series for his all-round performance, also agreed with this opinion. He picked up 11 wickets, the most in the series, and scored 114 runs, including a century, in the first innings in Chennai.

“When we bowled them out just after lunch yesterday, Rohit was keen to get a result,” Ashwin said. “He said we need at least 80 overs to bowl them and the moment he came in and gave that lecture we'll go for it and even if we all get out under 230 we'll put the cat under the pigeons.

“It's not just him saying that, but he went out and hit his first (two balls) for a six. That way you set the tone and obviously everyone goes from there.”

Rohit also praised Akash Deep, who made crucial breakthroughs in the two Test series. He bowled out several balls to Zakir Khan and Mominul Haque in the first innings in Chennai and then brought back three wickets in the Kanpur game, including that of second innings half-centurion Shadman Islam.

“He was good and played a lot of domestic cricket,” Rohit said. “When you move up the rankings like that, you have enough overs in your legs. He has played a lot of cricket so we know the guy can do the job the team expects from him. He has the quality, he also has the skills and the guy also has a good body. He can bowl for long spells and can also bowl fast.

“We want to put together a group of bowlers who are ready to play Test cricket at any point because there is too much cricket going on these days, there are a lot of injuries and things like that. So you have to make sure you prepare yourself and prepare your bench strength so that if someone is injured, you should be able to replace them.

Jasprit Bumrah, who completed the two-match series with 11 wickets, also praised three-Test old Akash Deep and said he has “a lot of heart”.

“He comes up to me quite often before his spell and asks me what’s going on and what do you think I should do,” Bumrah said. “We had a lot of interesting conversations. It's the energy he brings to the ball, he gives his best on the field and also when bowling. He’s got a lot of heart, so that’s a great sign.” Things are moving on for us too. And whenever he comes into play, he gives his best. So I'm very happy with his progress and hope he keeps getting stronger.

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