Kanpur, Nov 28, : India’s batting coach Vikramrathour stated that the team has been able to give a lot of practice time to the tailenders.He said that giving batting practice time to the tailenders has been a strategy that has worked for the past few years. India’s second innings of the ongoing first Test at Green Park Stadium was at 51/5.It took contributions from Shreyas, Ravichandran Ashwin and Wriddhiman Sacha to bring the total up to 234/7.
Iyer and Ashwin shared a partnership of 52 runs for the sixth wicket, before Saha added 64 runs for the seventh wicket.Before the declaration, Saha enjoyed an unconquered partnership of 67 runs and Axar Patel.
“I believe that this was a deliberate effort on our part.We have been trying give them more batting when we are having the nets.
This is what we have done for the past few years.We have been giving a lot to all tail-end bats.This strategy has paid off.They are hard working, giving their best and understanding the importance of the contribution from tail.We have been mostly on the suffering side.The other teams have always done well against us in this part.The other teams managed to reach a total after picking up four to five wickets.It’s encouraging to see that we can do that against other teams and do it repeatedly,” Rathour said in the virtual press conference following Day Four.
Rathour felt that Iyer, who became India’s first batter to score a century in the first innings (105), and then follow it with a half-century second on Test debut, looked better during his crucial knock of 65.It was very important.It is always exciting when a debutant batsman scores a hundred.This is something very, very special.
He looked even better in the second inning, I thought.All credit to him.It’s exciting to be a coach or a support staff member and see someone succeed for their team.
Rathour was very complimentary of Saha’s gritty 61 runs, especially after he failed to keep wickets on day three because of neck stiffness.”He had a stiff neck.He was clearly struggling.
We knew that Saha, an ideal team man, would be there if we needed him.He did this today.He was a crucial player at the moment.This is what we all expect from Wriddhi.He was always that kind of person you can trust and today he proved why.
“Wriddhi is not happy with Rishabh Pan, the number one keeper in the team.He has done a tremendous job for us over the past few seasons.This is what Wriddhi has at any given moment.
He is always there for us when Pant isn’t available.He proved that again today with the kind of knock he played, showing how important and valuable he still remains,” concluded the 52 year-old.
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