Depth and variety in the Test team coupled with performances from key players assure India captain Rohit Sharma that they are “in the right place”.
India finished the two-Test series in the Caribbean with a 1-0 result after rain on the final day of the second match in Port of Spain stopped them from going for a sweep.
Rohit had words of praise for Mohammed Siraj and Ishan Kishan, who did well with the bat and ball at the Queen’s Park Oval.
“We are in the right place. It’s about getting the job done,” Rohit said at the presentation ceremony.
About Siraj, Rohit said that the pacer has improved by leaps and bounds but at the same time added that he expected everyone in the bowling attack to play a prominent role. “Siraj, I have been watching closely. He’s taken such a giant step. He has led this attack. I don’t want anyone to lead the attack... I want everyone to lead when they are having the ball in their hand. You want the entire pace battery taking the responsibility,” he said.
Explaining the variety in the side, Rohit cited the examples of centurion Virat Kohli and keeper-batter Kishan, who slammed a 34-ball 52 in India’s second innings. “You need guys like Ishan. We wanted quick runs, we promoted him, he wasn’t afraid. He was the first one to put his hand up.
“In Test matches, you need guys who stabilise the innings like what Virat did, he played superbly. You need a mixture of everything. We have depth, we have got variety,” Rohit said.
The skipper also lamented the rain interruption. “Every win is different. Playing in West Indies has its own challenge. Happy with the way things went. We gave it a good shot, unfortunately, we couldn’t get any play today (Monday). We actually went out with a positive intent.
“Rain had its final say. We were quite confident. You know how difficult it is batting last. We always wanted that kind of score where we wanted the opposition to go for it. There wasn’t much on the surface.”
Siraj, adjudged the Man of the Match, was happy with his performance. “This is my first player of the match award in Tests, very pleased. There wasn’t much help for the pacers. I kept my plans simple and executed.
“When you pick wickets in conditions like this, you get loads of confidence. Rohit bhai asked me to believe in myself, not take any pressure and enjoy,” Siraj said.
