Rohit Sharma hits back at reporters says ‘It’s only the media that thinks I am under pressure’

Ahead of the start of the Kolkata Test, Team India’s 250^th at home everyone predicted it to be a good batting surface which would go on to assist the spinners on the last couple of days. This was the first competitive match played on the re-laid wicket and it played opposite to the expectations. The pacers have ruled the rooster in the Test match thus far and the life for the men with the bat has been really tough.

Indian bowlers dismissed New Zealand cheaply in the first innings to secure a 112-run lead, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the wrecker in chief as he grabbed a five-wicket haul, his 4th in Test cricket. When the Indians walked out to bat it wasn’t a tad easier and they had to earn each run that they scored.

The Kiwi fast bowlers held onto troubling lines and tested them right through, the top order perished early and it was with Virat Kohli’s 45 and Rohit Sharma’s half century that they managed to get to a substantial second inning score and overall lead.

Rohit was the best batsman on the day as he scored a characteristic 82 from 132 balls. His inning was studded with nine boundaries and two sixes as he led the team to gain a 339-run lead by the end of day 3.

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Talking to the reporters following the conclusion of the day’s play the Mumbai lad said, “You may have seen this in the last two days. They have re-laid the wicket. It’s not a typical Kolkata wicket what it used to be. There’s uneven bounce. At no point batsman could relax or take it for granted. Every ball you played, you had to make sure that you gave 100 per cent,”

“Condition was never easy. Once the ball get softer, there’s not much for the bowlers. If you put the ball in the right areas you will get odd bounce. There’s something in the surface throughout the day, not just in the morning, afternoon or evening. You just could not relax,” Rohit added.

His critics have always held the sword against him and blamed him for playing with a poor temperament that didn’t match the standards and requirements of Test cricket. He has been living off the edge, as he has been excluded from the squad every now and then only to make a comeback after a few matches.

When he was asked if there was pressure to perform Rohit felt the pinch and retaliated saying, “There is no pressure. It only comes from the media that I’m under pressure. You may have seen that on the field. Did I look under pressure in the first or this Test?” he said.

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