Kolkata: Rohit Sharma (82, 132b, 9×4, 2×6) came up with a resolute knock on a two-paced track as India survived a top order collapse to grab the driving seat on a riveting third day of the second cricket Test against New Zealand at the Eden Gardens here, Sunday.
The hosts reached 227 for eight in their second innings at stumps, opening up a comfortable 339-run gulf with their rivals. Earlier in the day, the New Zealand first innings folded at 204, conceding a 112-run lead to the hosts. India had totalled 316 in their opening essay.
Rohit, who had struck an unbeaten 68 in the first Test at Kanpur, delivered when his side needed the most, as he continued his love affair with the famed ground where he scored 177 against the West Indies in a Test and 264 in an ODI opposite Sri Lanka.
At close of play, local boy Wriddhiman Saha (39 batting, 87b, 3×4) was unbeaten — the junior partner in a 103-run seventh wicket stand with Rohit that consolidated India’s position post-tea break. Giving Saha company was Bhuvneshwar Kumar (9, 1×6).
Mumbaikar Rohit showed exemplary grit as he earlier combined with skipper Virat Kohli (45, 65b, 7×4) for a 48-run fifth-wicket partnership at a time India were tottering at 43 for four in the post-lunch session with the Kiwi pacers causing havoc, exploiting the uneven bounce on the wicket.
Kiwi quicks Trent Boult (2/28) and Matt Henry (3/44) had virtually brought their side back in contention in the match after lunch by unleashing a barrage of short-pitched offerings which caught the Indians repeatedly on the wrong foot. India lost four star batsmen cheaply, with Henry claiming three of them. Mitchell Santner (3-51) saw the back of Ravichandran Ashwin (5) close to tea.
Rohit began cautiously. But once Kohli went back, Sharma took charge, and showed his flair with some elegant shots before getting out off Santner who got rid of Ravindra Jadeja (6) the same over.
Earlier, the visitors’ overnight batsmen put up a gritty fight to cut India’s lead to 112 runs. Comeback man Jeetan Patel (47, 47b, 9×4) and BJ Watling (25, 67b, 3×4) stitched together a 60-run stand for the eighth wicket after resuming at the overnight score of 128 for seven.
Mohammed Shami (3/46) picked the last two wickets of the Kiwis’ essay. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (5/48) was the most successful Indian bowler.
Rohit finds wicket tough for batsmen
Rohit played a fine 82-run knock to guide India to a healthy 339-run lead over New Zealand at the end of the third day of the second cricket Test here. “They have relaid the wicket. It’s not a typical Kolkata wicket what it used to be. There’s uneven bounce. At no point batsman could relax or take it for granted. Every ball you played, you had to make sure that you gave 100 per cent,” Rohit said at the post day’s press conference. “Condition was never easy. Once the ball gets softer, there’s not much for the bowlers. If you put the ball in the right areas you will get odd bounce,” he added.
The flamboyant Mumbai batsman has often been criticised for being not able to make it big in Test cricket despite possessing serious talent. But Rohit, somewhat, answered back his detractors in this series hitting his second successive half century.
“There is no pressure. It only comes from the media that I’m under pressure. You may have seen that on the field. Did I look under pressure in the first or this Test?” he shot back. “You have to play each ball on its merit and cannot think too far ahead. We kept focused at every ball thrown to us. It was all about building partnerships. There has been quick wickets and it needed one or two batsmen to get you out of trouble,” Rohit said.