[Watch] "Virat bhai ko bhi bolna" - Enthusiastic fan urges Rohit Sharma to pass on a message to Kohli as Indian captain signs an autograph for her
Indian captain Rohit Sharma had an interesting exchange with a fan even as the team prepared for the second Test against New Zealand, which begins at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Thursday, October 24. An excited female fan requested an autograph from Rohit. Even as the cricketer was signing, she urged him to pass on a message to Virat Kohli and tell him she is a big fan of the former Indian captain.
India are 1-0 down in the three-match Test series against New Zealand. They lost the first Test against the Kiwis at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru by eight wickets. Batting first after winning the toss, the hosts were bowled out for 46 under conditions tailor-made for New Zealand pacers. They fought back hard in the second innings, but could not avoid defeat.
Team India are now gearing up for the second Test in Pune. And, like in Bengaluru, some of their off-field interactions with fans are going viral. On Tuesday, October 22, a video of an interesting chat between skipper Rohit and a female fan went viral on social media. This is how the conversation went.
Fan: Rohit bhai, please autograph dedo (Rohit brother, please give autograph).
Fan: (As Rohit is signing) Thank you so much. Aur Virat bhai ko bhi bolna mera thik hai. Unko bolna bahut badi fan aayi thi. (Please tell Virat a very big fan of him had come.)
Rohit: Bolta hoon (I'll tell)
Fan: You are the best.
Watch video below
Rohit was dismissed for two off 16 balls in the first innings in Bengaluru, while Kohli fell for a nine-ball duck. Both batters notched up half-centuries in the second essay. While the Indian captain contributed 52 off 73 balls, Kohli was dismissed for 70 off 102 deliveries.
India will be banking on Rohit, Kohli to deliver in Pune
Following the loss in Bengaluru, India's chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord's have become a bit trickier. They need to win five of their remaining seven Tests in the ongoing WTC cycle to be assured of a place in the summit clash.
Being two of the most senior batters in the team, there will be high expectations from Rohit and Kohli to rise to the challenge. Before the first Test against New Zealand, the two experienced batters had struggled against Bangladesh as well even as India won the series 2-0.