'Hard to Pinpoint Where it Went Wrong, Overall we Failed as a Team': Rohit Sharma After Defeat in Hyderabad

India skipper Rohit Sharma admitted that the team didn’t bat well enough in the second innings while chasing a 231-run target on Day 4 of the first Test. The Asian giants suffered a shock defeat in Hyderabad after taking a 190-run lead in the first innings. Ollie Pope’s brilliant 196-run knock was the difference between both teams as England’s number 3 showcased his class on a tricky batting surface in the second innings to shift the momentum in the visitors’ way.

Meanwhile, debutant Tom Hartley spun his web to dismantle the star-studded Indian batting line-up for just 202. Hartley claimed a seven-wicket haul to make his debut a memorable one.

Also Read | Sensational England Humble Mighty India in Dramatic Hyderabad Test to Take Shock 1-0 Lead

Rohit asserted that they felt comfortable after taking a 190-run lead after the first innings but failed to capitalise on it.

“Hard to pinpoint where it went wrong. Having got a lead of 190, we thought we were very much in the batting,” Rohit said in the post-match presentation.

Rohit also heaped praise on Pope who played one of the best knocks on Indian soil by an overseas batter. Pope stood tall when the wickets were falling from one end and helped England set up a challenging 231-run target in front of India.

“Exceptional batting, one of the best I have seen in Indian conditions by an overseas batter, Ollie Pope played a brilliant knock . We bowled in the right areas. The bowlers executed the plans really well, you got to take your hat off to Pope and say well played,” Rohit added.

Meanwhile, the skipper said that it was a batting failure by the team in the second innings as they were all out in 69.2 overs

“Overall, we failed as a team. We didn’t bat well enough,” he added.

The skipper also pointed out the efforts of the lower order who put up a solid fight but said the batting unit was not brave enough on Day 4.

“I wanted them (Siraj and Bumrah) to take the game to the fifth day. The lower order fought really well there. You need to be brave enough, which I thought we weren’t,” he concluded.