Indian batsmen shelve egos in first Test

Monday, 10 December 2018:

India batsman CHETESHWAR PUJARA drives during the Test Match between England and India at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, England.
India batsman CHETESHWAR PUJARA drives during the Test Match between England and India at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, England.


India's batsmen have shelved their egos, putting them on the cusp of a historic first Test win against Australia, assistant coach Sanjay Bangar says.

The Indians need six more Australian wickets, with 219 runs in hand, on Monday's final day at Adelaide Oval to record their first win in a Test series-opener in Australia.

India's top order, led by Cheteshwar Pujara (123 and 71), have successfully blunted Australia's pace attack to lay the platform for victory.

Bangar says regardless of the outcome on Monday, the Indian batsmen should take great heart for the rest of the four-Test series.

But he warns the top-order batsmen will get "no respite" from Australia's fast bowlers for the remainder of the series.

"They will put the ball in the right area; they will keep asking the questions of our batsmen," Bangar said.

"You have to sacrifice your ego and play time. That's what we are looking at."

While Pujara has led India's picture of batting concentration, his polar opposite is wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant.

The 21-year-old smacked 28 from 16 balls including four fours and a six on Sunday, including taking 18 runs from one Nathan Lyon over.

"He is capable of playing both games, not only play his shots which we know he can, but he has another aspect to his game," Bangar said.

"And for somebody who is just starting his career, exciting prospect to have.

"When he walked in, we were 260-odd and immediately he released the pressure.

"Once he had put us in that position, we expected that - with time and with a better approach and calculation tactically - he could have done better.

"But you don't want to take the fearlessness away from him."






AAP