The Indian cricket team secured a decisive victory against Bangladesh in the second Test held in Kanpur, with captain Rohit Sharma praising his players for embracing an aggressive strategy. Despite facing challenging weather conditions that resulted in no play for two days, India managed to complete a 2-0 series sweep, solidifying their lead at the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) rankings.
With only 35 overs bowled across the first three days due to rain, India needed to act quickly on day four. After bowling out Bangladesh for 233 runs, Rohit set the tone by launching the first two balls he faced for sixes, demonstrating a commitment to an aggressive batting approach.
Defining Aggression in Cricket
Rohit articulated his understanding of aggression in cricket, stating, “For me aggression is all about your actions. It’s not about my reactions: the kind of batting we do, the kind of field positioning we do, the kind of bowling we do; that to me is aggression.” His philosophy emphasizes proactive decision-making and bold execution rather than reactive play.
The Indian captain acknowledged the contributions of his teammates and coaching staff in maintaining focus despite losing significant playing time. “Without the help of the other ten players and those sitting in the dressing room, this wouldn’t have been possible,” he remarked. “When we came here on day four, we needed seven wickets quickly, so I thought everything started there.”
The Role of Bowlers and Fielding
Rohit credited his bowlers for their pivotal role in setting up the win. “The bowlers came to the party first; they got the wickets that we needed,” he said. Following their success with the ball, it was essential for India’s batsmen to take calculated risks to secure a result. Rohit expressed confidence in this strategy, acknowledging that while the outcome could have gone either way, both he and head coach Gautam Gambhir were prepared to embrace that uncertainty.
He noted that aggressive play requires bravery and decisiveness: “You have to be brave enough to take those decisions and go and play that way. When things fall into place, everything looks good.”
Exceptional Fielding Contributes to Victory
In addition to their batting and bowling efforts, Rohit highlighted India’s impressive fielding performance during the match. Notably, Yashasvi Jaiswal made crucial catches that significantly impacted the game’s outcome. Rohit noted that out of 24 catches offered by Bangladesh, India successfully took 23—a remarkable achievement for slip fielding in Indian conditions.
“You don’t often see in India ball carrying through the slips,” he explained. “But the guys who were standing behind were so sharp… It may look easy on television, but it is not because they are standing way ahead than they normally do.”
Looking Forward
Rohit’s leadership has shifted India’s focus towards prioritizing winning through an aggressive style across formats. His captaincy emphasizes trust in judgment and decision-making while remaining open to suggestions from teammates.
“When you are playing at such a high level, you need to have a bit of everything,” Rohit stated. “You need to be calm and think wisely… I trust my mind and I trust my judgment.”
Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram and Instagram
