Rohit Sharma emphasizes trust and execution as key after India’s test series loss to New Zealand

PUNE: India’s skipper Rohit Sharma expressed confidence in his players, refusing to add pressure on the team’s batting lineup after a 113-run defeat to New Zealand in the second Test, which led to a historic series loss on home soil. In a rare outcome, India was dismissed for 156 and 245 in their two innings, unable to match New Zealand’s resilient 259 and daunting 359. This result marked New Zealand’s first Test series victory in India and India’s first home series loss since 2012.

Despite the setback, Rohit remains optimistic, underscoring the need for players to trust their individual game plans. He pointed out India’s recent streak of 18 consecutive home series wins, affirming that the team has consistently delivered on challenging pitches. “It’s happened in two matches, but we’ve won 18 straight series in India. That shows we’ve been doing a lot of things right,” said Rohit.

Rohit encouraged his batsmen to focus on executing their plans rather than fixating on mistakes, emphasizing that setbacks are part of the game. He remains hopeful the team will regroup and find solutions, continuing India’s reputation as a dominant force in Test cricket.(Reuters)