"You Got To Think Positive and That’s What My Mindset Was" – Rohit Sharma on His Dismissal

Rohit Sharma defended his mode of dismissal by implying that there was a need to be positive considering how well the English bowlers bowled in the first session on Day 2. In attempting his favorite pull shot on the stroke of lunch, Rohit was caught at long leg by Sam Curran off Ollie Robinson‘s head-high delivery which put a minor blemish on an otherwise perfect session for India.

Talking about his dismissal, Rohit said the pacers were disciplined so any loose balls on offer needed to be put away. Although it was a painful way to get out right when lunch was beckoning, he felt positivity was necessary for tough batting conditions.

“As you said, it is my shot. We saw in the first hour of play, we did not get any loose balls and their bowlers were quite disciplined. So you have to take your odd chances when the ball is there. You have to punish them. Of course, when you know it’s around the time of close of play [session 1], you feel disappointed and that is what I’m feeling about it,” he said in a conference after the day’s play.

“Their bowlers are so disciplined, you hardly get anything” – Rohit Sharma

The openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma had set up a perfect platform for India with a 97-run partnership. Unfortunately, a familiar mini-collapse following Rohit’s dismissal left India shaken at 125/4 when rain forced the play to be suspended for the day. Scoring was difficult throughout the first session, and Rohit put the same into perspective.

Having reached 125/4 at the close of play, India trail England by 58 runs going into Day 3. The weather forecast continues to offer no hope, and a similar stop-start day might be in the offing for the players.