India suffered a significant defeat to South Africa, and promised to come back stronger in the next test match. Captain Rohith Sharma, who did not perform well in the match, expressed confidence in the team’s ability to bounce back despite missing the opportunity to win the series.
The brief trip to South Africa was seen as a crucial challenge for India, as it is the only country where they have not won an away series. However, that chance is now lost.
“Honestly, we were not at our best in this match,” Rohit acknowledged, as the team was dismissed for 131 runs in their second innings on the third day. He also highlighted the failure of the batsmen to capitalize on the conditions.
Rohit specifically mentioned Virat Kohli’s second innings performance, where he scored 76 runs while the rest of the team struggled. He recognized the need for collective effort in order to win test matches.
Despite the loss, Rohit pointed out the positive aspects of KL Rahul’s performance in the first innings and acknowledged that many of the bowlers are still learning and adapting to the conditions in South Africa.
“We will regroup and come back stronger,” Rohit stated, showing determination to improve in the upcoming second test at Newlands, a venue where India has never won a test match.
“It’s important for us to regroup as quickly as we can. It’s tough to take a loss like this. But as a sportsman, we all go through these kinds of times, and you need to pick yourselves up, get ready for the next challenge, which is in front of you,” he added.
India’s performance in the first test was disappointing, but the team is looking ahead to the next test match with renewed determination. The loss has highlighted the need for improvement in various aspects of their game, and the players are focused on regrouping and putting up a stronger fight in the upcoming match.
Despite the challenges they faced in the first test, India is determined to make a comeback and learn from the mistakes. The upcoming match at Newlands presents a new opportunity for the team to prove themselves in a place where they have previously struggled.
Overall, India is focused on regrouping and approaching the next test match with a determined mindset, aiming to put up a better performance and potentially secure a win.
(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; editing by Pritha Sarkar)