India captain Rohit Sharma was extremely proud of the way his young side performed under pressure in the recent fourth Test against England. India earned a hard-fought win by 5 wickets in Ranchi to claim a lead of 3-1 in the five-Test series with one more Test to go.
India was asked to chase 192 runs on a tricky pitch in Ranchi and the batters didn’t disappoint despite challenges by England spinners. Rohit Sharma made 55 and Shubman Gill made 52*. Dhruv Jurel who made a brilliant 90 in the first innings, made 39* in the chase as well, adding a match-winning 72* runs for the sixth wicket.
“It has been a very hard-fought series without a doubt and to come on the right side of it at the end of four Test matches feels good. Really proud of everyone in the dressing room. There were a lot of challenges thrown at us but I thought we responded pretty well. We had different challenges in different Test matches and I thought we were quite composed in what we wanted to achieve and what we wanted to do on the field, very happy. Clearly tell me they (youngsters) want to be here, all the hard work they have done in the past, coming up playing domestic cricket and performing there, coming here is a big challenge but when I look at them, talk to them and the responses that I get from them is quite encouraging,” Rohit Sharma said in the post-match presentation.
“My job and Rahul Bhai's job is to give them the environment they want to be in and they don't feel too much about going out there and getting the job done, they want to get the job done but there's no point to keep talking about it or reminding them about it because they are very clear in what they want to do. Jurel playing his second Test showed solid composure, calmness and he's got the shots as well to play all around the wicket,” he added.
Rohit Sharma was praiseful of Dhruv Jurel and Shubman Gill and the composure they showed in the pressure of the chase on a pitch that was challenging.
“The first innings 90 of his was very crucial for us to get close to that England's total and again in the second innings showed lot of maturity, composure along with Gill. It is not pleasing when you miss your key players, but you can do nothing as a group. Those guys (Kohli and Co.) are proven players in every condition and to come in and fill their shoes was not easy for these guys. There was pressure from the outside not inside but I thought they responded very well to all the situations. When you make a mark like that, it holds you in a good position to have a long career. Performances like this will motivate them and make sure whenever the opportunity comes they are ready for it,” Rohit Sharma stated.
The fifth and final Test will be played in Dharamshala from March 7 onwards and Rohit Sharma said that the Indian team will be ready for the England challenge in Himachal Pradesh.
“We turn up for every Test wanting to win no matter what has happened in the past. Obviously, this has been a great series but we want to make sure we turn up for that (Dharamsala Test) game and put our best foot forward. Some of these guys were not used to playing a 5-match series but they have shown a lot of calmness and composure. I am confident we will put up the same show as the last three Test matches,” Rohit Sharma.
With this series in the pocket, the Indian team extended their unbeaten run in Tests at home to 17 series wins on a trot.
(Cricbuzz inputs)
