India captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir received high praise from former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary after Team India staged a remarkable comeback in the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru. Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant were the stars in the first session on Day 4. Sarfaraz struck his maiden Test hundred to take India to 344 for three at lunch on Saturday.
Sarfaraz (125, 154b) and Rishabh Pant (53, 56b) were at the crease when an early lunch was taken due to rain. The duo milked 113 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket in just 22 overs. India, resuming from 231/3 and 125 behind, now trail only by 12 runs .
Calling it Rohit Sharma's era, Tiwary said the Indian captain deserves a lot of credit for giving freedom to all the players in the Indian side. "This is Rohit Sharma's era. It's because of his captaincy and the freedom that he gives as a captain that allows these young playersto play this way," Tiwary said on Cricbuzz.
India, after being bowled out for 46 in the first innings and concerning 356-run lead, came out all guns blazing in the second innings with contributions from Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant. India's run rate in the second innings is nearly 5 runs an over. "The way Sarfaraz and Pant have set the platformis great.
Just imagine if Kohli hadn't got out off the last ball, it would have been somethingelse. But hats off to Sarfaraz and Pant. Words will fall short.
These batters won't stop. They.