India vs New Zealand 2019: We Decided as a Team to Take on Challenge - Rohit Sharma on Batting First in Wellington

India’s stand-in captain for New Zealand ODIs, Rohit Sharma, revealed the team had decided to take on the challenge; by batting first on a bowling-friendly track in the fifth ODI in Wellington. As a result of the brave call, India faced expected jitters, reeling at 18 for four at one stage. Though the middle-order saved India’s day, Sharma said he wouldn’t have changed his call if given a chance again. Adding the plan was to test their batsmen in challenging conditions.

Rayudu, all-rounders save India’s day in Wellington

Ambati Rayudu was the saviour on Sunday, helping the visitors revive from a peculiar situation. Though India had suffered an almost similar fate in the previous match in Hamilton, they didn’t allow the NZ to build pressure in Wellington. India’s number four batsman, Rayudu scored 90 off 133 balls, hitting eight fours and four sixes. Later, contributions from Vijay Shankar, Jadhav and Pandya helped India score 252.

Rohit Sharma said he had a brief look at the pitch before the game. As there was some moisture on the surface, it was evident the pacers would benefit, at least in the first ten overs. He added he along with the teammates decided to take up the challenge by batting first.

“I had a look before the toss and we knew that there was some moisture on the pitch which will always be helpful for the fast bowlers initially, first seven to ten overs. So we decided as a team, as a group, that we want to be going and facing those challenges because it’s important.”

The India opener said had India batted second, they would have played a lot better. However, keeping the 2019 World Cup in-sights, where the conditions could be more challenging; Rohit wanted the players to face unfamiliar situations.

“Now that we’ve played the way we played, posted a decent target on the board, that wouldn’t have happened if we would have chased. I thought the wicket also got flatter towards the end, and we knew that to some extent it will be better to bat second, but as a team we wanted to go out there and see how we face those challenges, because come the World Cup, big games, we will be put into those situations, so what then.

Rohit lauds Vijay Shankar, Ambati Rayudu

The 98-run stand for the fifth wicket between Vijay Shankar and Rayudu didn’t allow India’s ship to sink. After they got reduced to 18 for four, India was all but starring down the barrel.

“Yes, we lost four wickets up front, there’s a learning there for us as a batting unit, as to how we should be batting when the ball is swinging when the conditions are not that easy, but again a lot of positives also came out from that.”

Rohit Sharma, however, lauded the way both the players played out the tough overs in the middle. He said by leaving the good balls and giving themselves time, the pair hit runs and anchored India’s innings to a safe position.

“The way Rayudu batted – he took his time, stitched a very good partnership with Vijay. I thought Vijay really batted well, although I was a little disappointed that he got out, he should have gotten fifty there, very well deserved, maybe a hundred also – you never know. But he got out, unfortunately, but yes, guys now know, come the situation, they know how to do it. The run rate wasn’t that great, the first 30 overs, but we still managed to get 250, which is a big big positive in my opinion.”

Meanwhile, India had won the fifth game by 35 runs and clinched the five-match ODIs 4-1.