Skipper Rohit Sharma’s hundred and unbeaten half-centuries from Ravindra Jadeja and Akshar Patel have put India in a commanding position in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test against Australia at VCA Stadium, Nagpur.

On a track where Australia’s innings folded for a paltry 177 and no visiting batter managed to hit a fifty, Rohit produced a batting exhibition against the spinners to score 120.

India scored 95 runs in the final session, courtesy an unbeaten 81-run stand between Jadeja (66*) and Akshar (52*), to finish the second day on 321/7, leading Australia by 144 runs in the first-innings.

Speaking at the end of the second day’s play, Akshar said: “Have been doing well with the bat for the last one year. That confidence is coming in handy. My technique – I always knew it was good.”

The left-hander also spoke about how the coaching staff motivates him. “I work on it when I get a break. Work with the coaching staff. They tell me that I have the ability, so I try to contribute.”

Even before a ball was bowled in the first Test, the Australian media had accused the hosts of doctoring the pitch.

Akshar cheekily responded when quizzed about the Nagpur pitch criticism.

“When you go in to bat you find some difficulty (on that pitch), but it gets easier after spending some time. The talk with Jadeja was to not lose focus,” Akshar said about his batting on Day 2.

“Till the time we bat tomorrow the pitch will play well, and when we get the chance to bowl – we’ll find help (laughs),” he concluded.

(Star Sports Inputs)