JOIN USAfter a disappointing outing on the first day, the Indians are in desperate need of a strong show in order to turn the tables on Australia. Opener KL Rahul, who was the lone bright spot in an otherwise below-par batting effort from the hosts, said his team is focused on getting back into the game.
“It’s just one day up and there are four more days to go. Fighting back is the only way from this point. The cracks are opening up and it’s only going to get harder to bat,” Rahul said here on Saturday.
Rahul felt Indian spinners R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja could script India’s answer to Nathan Lyon’s inspired bowling performance that put the Australians on top after the first day.
“We know Ash (Ashwin) is a top class bowler and once he gets a couple of wickets and gets into that rhythm, then he is going to run through the Australian batting line-up, which we’re very confident of. Jadeja didn't get to bowl a lot today but like Lyon, if he too can come in and bowl consistently on the rough.”
Even as wickets kept falling from one end, the right-hander held firm and planned his innings in fine fashion to slam a crucial 90. “That's been my responsibility and the game plan in the last six to eight months. As soon as the spinners come on, it’s important for an opening batsman to not let him settle. The wicket was a little damp so Lyon was getting a lot of bounce. I felt if I swept I could get the top edge. So I looked to tire out the bowlers,” he said.