'Play Without Any Fear': Rohit Sharma Asserts India Will Not Change Aggressive Mindset Despite Loss

Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma asserted that the team will not change its aggressive mindset despite losing the first Test match to New Zealand. Speaking at a post-match press conference, Rohit emphasized that the team's approach will remain unchanged, regardless of the outcome of one game or series.

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Rohit Sharma says India will play with the same mindset

Rohit Sharma highlighted India's fighting spirit in the second innings, where they scored 462 runs after being bowled out for 46 in the first innings. He praised the team's attitude and willingness to take risks, citing their recent match against Bangladesh in Kanpur, where they pushed for victory despite losing two days to rain.

“We don't change our mindset based on one game or one series. We are not going to change our mindset fearing the losing of a Test match,” Rohit Sharma said in the post-match press meet.

“It’s about to try and not let the opposition know that we are under pressure or we are behind the game. When you are actually behind, you want to try and do extraordinary things and play without any fear.

“Some of the Test matches we played recently shows what I am talking about and that's how it's going to be. It's one thing to talk about it, but actually we went out there (in Bengaluru) and played some fearless cricket,” added Rohit.

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But Rohit saw a flip side of this, saying the visiting batters have also been trying to find ways to tame Indian bowlers, especially spinners.

The 37-year-old picked the Rachin Ravindra’s hundred as an example.

“Some of the shots Rachin played were really, really good. He played well against spinners. He understood what our spinners were trying to do and he didn't back off from playing his natural game. Rachin and (Devon) Conway put our spinners under pressure playing different shots,” he said.

Rohit also reminisced about the hundred Ollie Pope made in the first Test at Hyderabad earlier this year, while employing different types of sweeps against Indian spinners.

“England batters had done that. Anyone who is coming to India now, they are trying to put the pressure on the bowlers by doing different things, different methods. But we know exactly what we are supposed to do when the situation like that arises,” he added. 

(With PTI inputs)