Twitter Reactions: Team India in the driver’s seat after Rohit’s fifty

The 3rd day of the 2nd Test started with the New Zealand pair of BJ Watling and Jeetan Patel batting on 12 and 5 respectively while the team total was 128/7. They were in all sorts of troubles after Bhuvneshwar Kumar grabbed a five-wicket haul in the last session of the second day. But they walked out with a plan today; the partnership did not just frustrate the Indian bowlers who were expecting to wrap them up early rather in the first session itself but also scored runs to cut down the deficit.

By the time Mohammad Shami wrapped things up Team India had a lead of a 112 runs. The conditions in Kolkata turned in favor of the pacers since there was a constants cloud cover and the wicket having absorbed some moisture with the rains around made life tough for the batsmen.

Kiwi pacers walked out with an intent to bowl out the Indians as early as possible and restrict the last innings lead. It all worked out well for them as they had Murali Vijay out cheap, then Cheteshwar Puajra and Shikhar Dhawan in a quick span.

Ajinkya Rahane couldn’t do much either. Skipper Virat Kohli who was dismissed cheaply in the last inning played his shots and took the attack to the Black Caps. He found a perfect partner in Rohit Sharma who opted for a cautious approach to start with and relied on running between the wickets to get most of his runs. Kohli was dismissed for 45 but by then Rohit he got his eye in and had started to play freely.

Also check out – India v New Zealand, 2nd Test, Day 3 – 5 Talking Points

Wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha joined him at the crease and the duo batted superbly to take the team total past 200 and the lead well past 300. Towards the end of the day Rohit was dismissed for 82 but by then had done his job and played one of his best Test knocks in testing conditions.

Here is how Twitter reacted during the 3rd day’s play:

Jeetan Patel
Rohit Sharma
2 Indians making us proud at the same time. #indvsnz

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) October 2, 2016

Played Rohit. A quality inns against good bowling on a tricky pitch. #indvsnz

— jigar mehta (@jigsactin) October 2, 2016

Rohit Sharma haters right now after his important 50. #IndvsNZ pic.twitter.com/aI6M2fGS72

— Sir Lazy (@iLazyLad) October 2, 2016

Chasing 250 on this pitch will be like going for 400 elsewhere. Can't see it happening, not with Ashwin and Jadeja around. #INDvsNZ

— Dileep Premachandran (@SpiceBoxofEarth) October 2, 2016

Lower order has bailed India out virtually every innings in last 6-7 months. Today, Saha's helped Rohit take this match far away from Kiwis

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 2, 2016

Poor Virat.
Had finally got going.
And then got dismissed by a Rajpal Yadav delivery.#INDvsNZ

— Sorabh Pant (@hankypanty) October 2, 2016

A @NeilWagner13 breakthrough would be perfect right now. #goldenarm #indvsnz

— Grant Elliott (@grantelliottnz) October 2, 2016

Bowling short, having fielders at leg slip and fine leg. Ross Taylor is applying wicket-taking tactics from EA sports Cricket. #IndvsNZ

— Sagar (@sagarcasm) October 2, 2016

34 runs by Indian openers in this Test, which is the lowest in a home Test since 33 runs vs Eng at Wankhede in 2005-06. #IndvsNZ

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) October 2, 2016

Jab Jab mene Rohit k batting ka Jikr kiya, Wicket gaya hai :p but Really standing up tall there today..With his inngs on such a deck.#INDvNZ

— Himanshu (@HimanJadduboy) October 2, 2016

Lead by '264' and Rohit is batting well… #INDvNZ

— Nikhil Mane ??? (@nikhiltait) October 2, 2016

Rohit Sharma is playing a little gem at Eden Gardens. Pulling for six, driving through cover for 4. On 40 now. Lead 259. #INDvNZ

— ScoopWhoop News (@scoopwhoopnews) October 2, 2016

You could almost hear Rohit Sharma say "If the ball is there to be pulled, I will pull. It's my shot" as he hit that six. #INDvNZ

— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) October 2, 2016

*Watches Rohit Sharma whacking the ball*

Goes down and says
? Rohit maar raha Hai

Goes to the roads and say
? Rohit maar raha Hai

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) October 2, 2016

I think Rohit has done enough to play the next series too. Two games, two good contributions.

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) October 2, 2016

The highest 4th inngs total by a visiting team at Eden Gardens is 233 by Eng in 1961 (lost by 187 runs).
India lead by 237 runs now.#INDvNZ

— Deepu Narayana (@deeputalks) October 2, 2016

6 Indian wickets in this session!
And no, the spinners didn't run riot. #IndvsNZ

— ZENIA D'CUNHA (@ZENIADCUNHA) October 2, 2016

Bhumi Pujan Shikhar Dhawan In Last 8 Tests.

RT If You Want Gautam Gambhir To Replace Him.#INDvsNZ #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/CtEz3AkpWr

— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadejaaaa) October 2, 2016

New zealand should get the remaining ASAP.. I don't want another one sided game. #IndVsNZ

— ️Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) October 2, 2016

Conventional numbers will put Kohli's knock as 45 runs…in reality, it's worth more than a century. Super knock. ???? #INDvNZ

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 2, 2016

Spanking on drives from Virat in the last two overs… one down the ground was a beauty! #IndvNZ

— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) October 2, 2016

The Pujara wicket on https://t.co/PkPDK5A1tc Match Centre. Not even close.#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/iDrsRdFJ2q

— Moulin (@Moulinparikh) October 2, 2016