Batting became a tad more difficult at the Green Park Stadium today than it was yesterday when the Kiwi openers topped a 100-run opening stand. Few of the Day 3 wickets resulted due to balls staying low and some even spun out of the rough.
Asked how should India’s batters apply themselves on a further worn-out pitch on Day 4, Axar Patel stated that both the batting and fielding sides need to be patient and persistent in their approach.
India lost Shubman Gill (1 off 3) in the second over before Mayank Agarwal (4* off 13) and Cheteshwar Pujara (9* off 14) saw India through the remaining four overs.
“He had some 10 minutes to get ready” – Axar Patel showers praise on stand-in keeper KS Bharat
India today were jolted even before the start of play when wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha couldn’t take the field due to a stiff neck and KS Bharat was summoned. But the 28-year-old Andhra keeper displayed exceptional glovework on an up-and-down track as he effected three dismissals, including stumping a well-set Tom Latham for 95.
Axar Patel, who bowled 24 overs today, lauded Bharat for getting ready without having the time to mentally prepare and then putting in a telling performance.
Rahul Dravid would now want India to get to at least 250, which should be enough to make a match out of. But more importantly, he would be staring at the middle-order to score big runs.
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