"There's no complacent mindset" - KS Bharat opens up on wicketkeeping challenge on Indian pitches
Indian wicketkeeper KS Bharat played the first Test against England in Hyderabad as the hosts wanted a specialist wicketkeeper to play the game in order to handle quality spinners. England won the series opener by 28 runs and India faced defeat even after taking a lead of 190 runs in the first innings. Ollie Pope played one of the best innings by a visiting batter in India as he scored 196 off 278 deliveries during England’s second innings.
India backed KS Bharat to do the job with the gloves and the wicketkeeper repaid the faith with some great takes in the first Test. However, Bharat believes that it is not something that comes naturally to him and claims that it involves a lot of hard work. Wicketkeeping is a tough job and it becomes an even tougher challenge when it is a Test match on a high-turning pitch in the subcontinent.
KS Bharat Will Be Playing On His Home Ground In The Second Test
On this, Bharat stated, “Playing in front of your home crowd is special. I am looking at this as any other Test match. There is something to look forward to. We are looking to bounce back. There will be a lot of noise. Good and bad. You have to be in the present moment. I feel proud to be playing in front of my home crowds. We have to first win the Test match.”
India and England will face each other at Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Vishakhapatnam and the hosts will be hoping for a win to level the series 1-1. England have won the first Test and are looking to maintain their lead by initiating another win or at least a draw in the second Test.
The hosts are yet to lose a Test series in India since 2012 when they were defeated by England 2-1 in the four-match series. India has won 16 consecutive home series since losing to England in 2012 and will hope to maintain the streak by winning the series against England. Four Tests are remaining in the series and India has the full opportunity to make a comeback.
