Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar said that it was necessary for the Indian team not to lose wickets in the middle overs on Day 6 of the World Test Championship that was played at Southampton.
New Zealand bowlers crushed the Indian batting order in both innings none of the Indian batsmen were comfortable in front of Kiwi bowlers.
“Not losing a wicket in the first 10-12 overs was very important but that’s where New Zealand were successful in getting Kohli and Pujara out. They got out in quick succession and [Ajinkya] Rahane too got out which kept the pressure on India. The batters had to hang in there,” Tendulkar said on his YouTube channel.
India resumed the final day on 64/2 and folded up for 170, leaving New Zealand with a victory target of 139.
“I’d mentioned that the first 10 overs on the last day would be critical. If we can last till drinks, then we had the firepower to accelerate. How Rishabh came and played some shots; and the rest too when they realised the game is a bit safer…”
Pant (41) perished trying to hoick Trent Boult and getting caught in the process.
“Rishabh tried to play shots and change the momentum so that if some runs could be scored, we could have given them a chance to bat, our bowlers a little more overs. But India lost wickets and the game was decided in the first 10-15 overs. If we’d had a partnership there, we could have been putting pressure on them,” added Tendulkar.
Tendulkar added India needed a good partnership on the last day to draw the game, and that even after losing three early wickets, the team could have put New Zealand under pressure by posting a decent total.
