Under-fire Indian captain Virat Kohli, prescribed a recommendation for the batting group, regarding their approach while batting in tough conditions.
After conceding a lead of over 180 in the first innings, Cheteshwar Pujara took a cautious approach while batting in the second innings of the Wellington Test match.
Pujara took as many as 28 deliveries to open his accounting while batting for the second time during the first Test.
Also, Pujara consumed 81 deliveries during his stay at the crease for just 11 runs. This led to Indian opener, Mayank Agarwal, playing a rash shot in the end, who was looking fluent at the other end.
Mayank top-scored for India with a brisk knock of 58 which came of 99 deliveries, laced with seven glamorous boundaries and a maximum.
“I think the language we use as a batting unit has to be correct. I don’t think being cautious or wary will help because you might stop playing your shots. You will start doubting that if even singles are not coming in those conditions, what will you do? You are just waiting for when that good ball will come and you will be dismissed,” rued Kohli, post-loss at Basin Reserve.
Further, Hanuma Vihari also adopted a similarly cautious approach during his stay at the crease, scoring 15 off 79 deliveries.
“If I see a situation, if it is a green wicket, then I try to play counter-attacking cricket so that I can take the team forward. But I don’t think a cautious approach ever pays off, especially away from home,” continued the Indian skipper.
Only Ajinkya Rahane, in India’s first outing during the Wellington Test, looked comfortable to cope up with seaming and swinging conditions, with his knock of 46.
“If we start thinking too much about the conditions, then you won’t be able to focus on your batting. When you are not playing in your (home) conditions, the game becomes more mental,” concluded Kohli.
