"Push people out of their comfort zone on and off the field"- Dinesh Karthik on India's strategy in Rohit Sharma-Gautam Gambhir era
Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik felt the new captain-coach pair of Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir would push players out of their comfort zone to achieve optimum results after the side's memorable second Test win over Bangladesh. After only 35 overs were bowled across the first three days, a draw seemed to be the likely result.
However, Team India had other plans, with the batters scoring at a run rate of over eight in the first innings to set up their victory. Rohit Sharma's men bowled Bangladesh out for 233 post-lunch on Day 4 and scored 285/9 in under 35 overs.
They then bowled Bangladesh out for 146 on Day 5 and chased the target of 95 in the 18th over with seven wickets remaining.
Karthik told Cricbuzz after the game:
"They made it uncomfortable for some of the batters because they wanted to play at such a high tempo. I know for a fact that they have to bat out of their comfort zone. And that's what Rohit Sharma-Gautam Gambhir era is going to be filled with. Push people out of their comfort zone on and off the field. And that will give the results they are looking for."
With the 2-0 win, India made it 18 consecutive Test series victories at home, dating back to 2013.
They have also won six consecutive home Tests after the surprising opening Test loss to England in Hyderabad earlier this year.
"This Test is astounding, unprecedented" - Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik hailed India for winning the second Test against a confident Bangladesh unit in under two days.
Bangladesh were coming off a historic 2-0 Test series win in Pakistan but were easily dispatched by Team India in both games.
"This Test match is astounding, unprecedented. To beat a team, which came in as a confident team, in under two days. After two days have been washed out completely. Still managing to do it with 45 overs to spare. Very, very cool from the Rohit-Gauti partnership so far," Karthik said in the same interaction.
India's win in the second Test at Kanpur came in only 171.2 overs and the side became the first team ever to bat at a run-rate of over seven across the two innings in a Test match.
The Bangladesh series was Gambhir's first Test assignment as India's head coach.